Velocity scaling of impact craters in water ice over the range 1 to 7.3 km s-1

The impact cratering behavior of polycrystalline ice at a temperature of 259 3 K has been investigated by 16 impacts with 1-mm aluminum 2017 alloy spheres (density 2790 kg m(-3)) over the velocity range 1 to 7.3 km s(-1) using a two-stage light-gas gun. Crater cross-sectional profiles and diameter, depth, and volume data are presented. It is found that there is no significant difference in power-law energy exponents for scaling of crater diameter and volume between these data and previous low-velocity (<1 km s(-1)) ice impact data. Dimensionless pi group scaling was also found to scale the data in a way which can be readily combined with earlier lower velocity, data and data at a lower ice temperature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).