Deep Impact (space mission)
Deep Impact was a NASA space probe to study comets.[1] It was sent out to meet Comet Tempel 1, and to crash a smaller space rocket deep into the comet's surface.
Deep Impact was launched on January 12, 2005 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket used was Delta II.[2] It reached the comet in July 2005, 134,000,000 kilometres (83,000,000 miles) from Earth. After taking photos, the 370 kilograms (820 pounds) impactor spacecraft was sent to crash into the surface on July 4, 2005.[1] This created a huge crater and blasted parts of the comet into space. Deep Impact was able to study this debris which included ice and dust from deep inside the comet. This has helped scientists understand what comets are made of.
From the explosion scientists discovered that the comet had water ice both on the surface and deep inside. One scientist described it as being like a "...skating rink of snowy dirt."[3] They were able to work out the comet was formed in the area between Uranus and Neptune.
After the mission, NASA decided to send Deep Impact to study the Comet 85P/Boethin. However the comet did not return on its expected 11 year path around the sun, and has not been seen since.[4]
Deep Impact (space Mission) Media
- Delta II 7925 (2925) rocket with Deep Impact.jpg
Deep Impact prior to launch on a Delta II rocket
- Animation of Deep Impact trajectory.gif
Animation of Deep Impact's trajectory from January 12, 2005, to August 8, 2013 Deep Impact · Tempel 1 · Earth · 103P/Hartley
- Deep Impact Animation JPL-540-MASTER high.webm
A conceptualized view of the impact, beginning with the Deep Impact spacecraft releasing a probe into the path of comet Tempel 1.
- Deep Impact encounter sequence.png
Deep Impact comet encounter sequence
- Deep Impact celebration.jpg
Mission team members celebrate after the impact with the comet.
- DeepImpactTempelCrater.jpg
'Before and after' comparison images from Deep Impact and Stardust, showing the crater formed by Deep Impact on the right hand image
- Deep Impact HRI.jpeg
The image of the impact which was widely circulated in the media
- Send Your Name to a Comet CD on Deep Impact.jpg
The CD containing the 625,000 names is added to the Impactor
- Deep Impact Discovery Mission to Comet Tempel 1.PNG
Deep Impact participation certificate of Mathias Rex
- Tempel 1 and Hartley 2.jpg
Comets Tempel 1 and Hartley 2
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "NASA - Overview". nasa.gov. 2010. Archived from the original on September 7, 2005. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ↑ "NASA - Launch Coverage". nasa.gov. 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ↑ "NASA - Deep Impact Team Reports First Evidence of Cometary Ice". nasa.gov. 2008. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ↑ Matson, John (October 23, 2012). "Destination: Missing--Comet Once Targeted by NASA Mission Vanished". Scientific American. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
