Correlation of meteoroid environments in the solar system

Abstract

Meteoroid masses cannot be inferred from the observed decelerations of meteors in the Earth's atmosphere. Moreover, the effects of solar electromagnetic radiation on the smaller meteoroids cannot be related to their alone. The name mass concentration and symbol C* are proposed for the pertinent property, essentially the per unit projected area, g cm~. The radiation pressure limit may be designated as C* = 10~ without reference to density, porosity, or size. The name meteoroid perforation capability and symbol C are proposed for a similar property, directly measureable in space experiments, regardless of statistical variations in density and velocity. Meteor observations, space experiments, and hypervelocity impact data are analyzed in terms of C* and C, and a log-normal form for the mean cumulative flux of meteoroids at 1 a.u. is derived. The influences of heliocentric longitude and of unknown streams in the interplanetary environment are treated statistically for space missions to Venus and Mars.