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Astronomy: Temple 1 Comet/ Deep Impact spacecraft
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Comets are icy capsules that hold clues about the early formation of the universe and our solar system. They contain early debris from 4.5 billion years ago when our solar system was created. Temple 1 is a comet which orbits the Sun in 5.5 years. Its path is relatively close to Earth which made this scientific mission possible. The Deep Impact mission gave us our first look inside a comet. The Deep Impact spacecraft had a bullet called the Impactor spacecraft which impacted with the comet Temple 1. On impact a big crater was produced and ice and dust debris was ejected from the crater revealing the material beneath. Deep Impact spacecraftThe Deep Impact mission lasted six years from start to finish. Planning and design for the mission took place from November 1999 through May 2001.It took years to build the spacecraft and plan the launch. In January 2005, a Delta II rocket was launched with onboard the combined Deep Impact spacecraft. The combined spacecraft consisted of the Impactor spacecraft, which had the size of a refridgerator and 370-kg mass. Impactor hit Temple 1 at a speed of 10 km/second. The Deep Impact mothership had the size of a car and had the purpose to observe this first intended impact on a comet. Deep Impact reached Temple 1 at 2 July 2005, pointed high-precision tracking telescopes and released the Impactor, which hit Temple 1 on 3 July 2005. Related subjects>> How are a star and planets formed?>> Comets |
 This artist impression shows the Deep Impact spacecraft approaching Temple 1.  Image taken by the Impactor minutes before impact, revealing ridges, scalloped edges and impact craters formed long ago on Temple 1.  On impact the sunlight reflected of the ejected material and provided a brightening that faded slowly away. This image was taken 67 seconds after impact by the high-resolution camera on the mission's flyby craft. |
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