Deep Impact Mission: Copper Impactor's Role

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The Deep Impact mission utilized a copper impactor primarily to minimize the corruption of spectral emission lines during analysis of the comet's nucleus. The choice of copper, which makes up 49% of the impactor, was driven by its properties that enhance scientific data collection rather than corrosion resistance. The impactor was mostly vaporized upon impact, rendering corrosion concerns irrelevant. The focus was on optimizing the scientific outcomes of the mission. Overall, the design choices were made to ensure the integrity of the scientific analysis.
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does anyone know the reason why they used a copper "impactor" for the deep impact mission?
is it for its corrosion resistance?
thanks
 
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Shawnzyoo said:
does anyone know the reason why they used a copper "impactor" for the deep impact mission?
is it for its corrosion resistance?
thanks

The impactor is made primarily of copper (49%) as opposed to aluminum (24%) because it minimizes corruption of spectral emission lines that are used to analyze the nucleus.

http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/tech/impactor.html

The impactor was mostly vaporized so corrosion resistance was never a consideration, only the potential impact to the science.
 

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