B. Elliott said:Phobos, would you happen to know if the flash of light from the impact will be visible from earth?
The purpose of the Deep Impact mission was to study the composition of a comet by creating an impact crater on its surface and observing the resulting debris.
The Deep Impact spacecraft carried a projectile called the "impactor" that was released at a close distance to the comet. The impactor collided with the comet at a high speed, creating a crater and releasing debris for the spacecraft to observe.
The Deep Impact mission discovered that the comet's surface was made up of mostly ice and dust, with some organic compounds and minerals. This provided valuable information about the formation and evolution of comets.
Yes, the Deep Impact mission was considered a success. It achieved its primary goal of creating an impact crater on the comet and gathering data about its composition. It also provided valuable insights into the early solar system and the potential for comets to carry organic material.
The Deep Impact mission demonstrated the feasibility of impacting and studying comets, which could be applied to future missions to study other celestial bodies. It also provided valuable data for understanding the potential for comets to bring organic material to other planets, increasing our understanding of the origins of life in the universe.