Dawn Graninger

I am a physicist specializing in hypervelocity impacts and hydrodynamic simulations of dynamic material response. Currently, I am a Co-I on the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). I am involved in studying many aspects of hypervelocity impacts, from the cratering to the flash of light that occurs on impact. I use a variety of high-fidelity numerical hydrodynamic simuation tools developed at the the Department of Energy to understand how both geolgic materials and metals respond dynamically, characterizing the resulting crater and ejecta from a hypervelocity impact. For the DART mission, I am part of the Impact Modeling Working Group where I run hydrodynamic simuations of the DART spacecraft impacting into Dimorphos. My research interests include planetary defense, hydrodynamics simulations, astrochemistry, planetary science, and planetary geology. My research utilizes several hydrodynamic simulation codes (CTH, ALE3D, Spheral++) and other data analysis tools to process simuations (such as VisIt).