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Spacecraft to crash into comet

Engineers are making the final preparations for the launch of NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft, due to lift off from Cape Canaveral on January 12, 2005. The spacecraft will make a six-month journey to reach the nucleus of Comet Tempel 1, and then mothership will eject the 360kg projectile, called an "impactor", directly into the path of Tempel 1. The projectile will crash into it on 4 July 2005 at 37,000 km/h (23,000 mph). Before crashing the camera aboard the projectile will take pictures of Tempel 1. Under optimal conditions, the camera could send back images of the comet’s surface with a resolution of up to 20cm per pixel..The 1-metre square copper probe will completely vapourize, and should carve out a hole the size of the Roman Coliseum. From a distance of 500km, Deep Impact will analyse Temple 1’s chemistry and structure by taking pictures and readings as comet debris is hurled out. The impact will also be recorded by Hubble, Spitzer, Chandra, and dozens of Earth-based observatories

posted by: kyawoo at 11:19 | link | comments (2) |
comets

Comments:

#1  19 December 2004 - 13:54

 

Hey! Interesting blog. Do you know something more about the allegedly observed cosmic strings?

http://motls.blogspot.com/2004/12/astronomers-prove-string-theory.html

Have they gotten time at Hubble? In my opinion, virtually all telescopes should be now pointing in these two directions!

All the best
Lubos

Anonymous

#2  19 December 2004 - 20:57

 

Great, how much is this going to cost us and what are we going to learn?

Anonymous

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