The photo, taken on January 1, 1963, shows the "energy flash" that occurs when a projectile launched at speeds up to 17,000 miles an hour impacts a solid surface at the Hypervelocity Ballistic Range at NASA's Ames Research Center. This test was used to simulate what happens when a piece of orbital debris hits a spacecraft in orbit.
The photo, taken on January 1, 1963, shows the “energy flash” that occurs when a projectile launched at speeds up to 17,000 miles an hour impacts a solid surface at the Hypervelocity Ballistic Range at NASA’s Ames Research Center. This test was used to simulate what happens when a piece of orbital debris hits a spacecraft in orbit.Image credit: NASA