Deep Impact was a NASA’s space probe launched on 12 January 2005. This was designed to study the composition of the comets.
The major objective of this mission was to find the answer for the following fundamental questions of a comet:
- Composition of the comet’s nucleus
- What depth the crater would reach from the impact
- Where the comet originated in its formation
To determine the answers for these questions, a robotic spacecraft left the gravity well of Earth and impacted a comet. This spacecraft was 3.2 meters (10.5 ft) long, 1.7 meters (5.6 ft) wide and 2.3 meters (7.5 ft) high. It consists two solar panels, a debris shield, and several science instruments for taking accurate pictures.
Deep impact has completed four crucial phases:
- Launch and commissioning phase
- Cruise phase,
- Approach phase
- Impact phase.
Finally, on 4th July the impact process occurred successfully. After successful completion of the Deep Impact’s mission, all the queries and suspense, which was earlier uncertain of a comet, were resolved.