Capture of an olivine micrometeoroid by spacecraft in low-earth orbit

Particulates associated with an impact feature in the solar maximum satellite MEB thermal control blanket are identified as magnesium-rich, Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) = 0.66 - 0.83, olivine and confirm that the impact feature was caused by an olivine micrometeoroid. At a relative impact velocity of ∼7 km s a considerable portion of the micrometeoroid was lost due to back splattering. Analytical electron microscope analysis of recovered particulates show several degrees of mineralogical and chemical degradation such as mechanical fragmentation, melting, loss of sulfur and iron, and formation of Fe, Ni grains. The results indicate that recovery of information is sufficient to establish the character of the impacted micrometeoroid.