Launch Pad, just before the launch
Deep Impact (named after the film) is a mission to rendezvous with Comet Tempel I on July 4th 2005, firing a missile into the comet so NASA can analyse the interior composition of the comet.
Launch Pad, just before the launch
Ignition
Blast Off
This is where we first hear ignition, due to distance and
speed of sound
Second Stage ignition, and booster rocket separation
Booster rockets trailing away
Disappearing into the distance
Those of you with broadband may want to look at the
attached AVI file (1.8Mb), where I have strung several images into an animation
of the launch.
Deep_Impact2.avi
The Deep Impact Mission was a complete success, and on July 4, 2005 the Impactor hit the comet
Here are the results of the mission
First view of the comet from the Deep Impact probe (April 2005)
View of the comet from the Impactor
Impactor closing in on the comet
Impact as viewed from the Deep Impact probe (mother ship)
Another view from Deep Impact
The view from the Hubble Space Telescope
© Andrew Grasemann
All photos are copyright to Andrew Grasemann (unless otherwise stated) and are for personal use only.