  The known encounter velocity (6.1kms-1) and particle incidence angle
(perpendicular) between the Stardust spacecraft and the dust emanating from the
nucleus of comet Wild 2 fall within a range that allows simulation in
laboratory light gas gun experiments designed to validate analytical methods
for the interpretation of dust impacts on the aluminum foil components of the
Stardust collector. Buckshot of a wide size, shape and density range of
mineral, glass, polymer and metal grains, have been fired to impact
perpendicularly upon samples of Stardust Al1100 foil, tightly wrapped onto
aluminium alloy plate as an analogue of foil on the spacecraft collector. We
have not yet been able to produce laboratory impacts by projectiles with weak
and porous aggregate structure, as may occur in some cometary dust grains. In
this report we present information on crater gross morphology and its
dependence on particle size and density, the pre-existing major and trace
element composition of the foil, geometrical issues for energy dispersive X-ray
analysis of the impact residues in scanning electron microscopes, and the
modification of dust chemical composition during creation of impact craters as
revealed by analytical transmission electron microscopy. Together, these
observations help to underpin the interpretation of size, density and
composition for particles impacted upon the Stardust aluminum foils.
