Title:

Results from the Deep Impact Mission & New Paradigms



Karen Meech
IfA



Abstract:

On July 4, 2005 the NASA Deep Impact spacecraft impaged with
the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1 at a velocity of 10.3
km/sec.  The flyby spacecraft obtained the most detailed
images ever made of the nucleus of a comet.  The nucleus
showed an unexpected layered structure which had regions
which looked old and cratered and areas which appeared to be
relatively new flows.  The spacecraft watched the
development of the impact event during an 800 second fly by
window, and obtained look back images of the nucleus.  From
these observations we have constrained the bulk density of
the nucleus, the strength and porosity of the surface
materials, as well as the thermal properties of the nucleus.
In addition to the spacecraft observations there was a major
world-wide campaign of observation at the time of impact
which provided a range of complementary data over all
wavelengths.  I will present the mission highlights, and the
new paradigms for comet formation that the team is
discussing in light of these new results.  In addition, I
will share some new mission ideas that have been recently
proposed that capitalize on the success of the Deep Impact
mission.