Ejecta models for particles generated by small kinetic impactors onto asteroid surfaces

This work presents the development of a statistical ejecta model to predict the ejecta characteristics due to the impact of a small kinetic impactor onto asteroids surfaces. The distribution of the ejecta in terms of particle size, ejection velocity, and ejection direction is obtained. The procedure followed to compute the parameters defining the shape of the distribution is based on conservation law and comparison with experimental correlation. In the context of the CRADLE project, the developed model is used to estimate the number of collectable particles as a function of the target characteristics.