Dynamics of escaping Earth ejecta and their collision probability with different Solar System bodies

Abstract

It has been suggested that the ejection to interplanetary space of terrestrial crustal material, accelerated in a large impact, may result in the interchange of biological material between Earth and other Solar System bodies. In this paper, we analyze the fate of debris ejected from Earth by means of numerical simulations of the dynamics of a large collection of test particles. This allows us to determine the probability and conditions for the collision of ejecta with other planets of the Solar System. We also estimate the amount of particles falling-back to Earth as a function of time after being ejected. We find that, in general, the collision rates of Earth ejecta with Venus and the Moon, as well as the fall-back rates, are consistent with results reported in the literature. By considering a larger number of particles than in all previous calculations we have also determined directly the collision probability with Mars and, for the first time, computed collision probabilities with Jupiter. We find that the collision probability with Mars is greater than values determined from collision cross section estimations previously reported.