Why space dust emits radio waves upon crashing into a spacecraft

(American Institute of Physics) When spacecraft and satellites travel through space they encounter tiny, fast moving particles of space dust and debris. If the particle travels fast enough, its impact appears to create electromagnetic radiation that can damage or even disable the craft's electronic systems. A new study published this week in Physics of Plasmas uses computer simulations to show that the cloud of plasma generated from the particle's impact is responsible for creating the damaging