This pair of images shows the "before and after" comparison of the comet Tempel 1, which has been hit by the Deep Impact probe NASA. Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Maryland / Cornell
JPL Press Release
PASADENA, Calif. - NASA's Stardust probe has sent new images of the comet that show the "scars" resulting from the Deep Impact mission in 2005. The images show that the comet nucleus has a fragile and weak.
The spacecraft has performed its closest approach to comet Tempel 1 on Monday, February 14 at 8:40 pm PST (23:40 ET) at a distance of about 178 kilometers (111 miles).
He also recorded 468 kilobytes of data on dust in the cloud or mane which is the atmosphere of a comet. The probe is in its second exploration mission called Stardust-NEXT, after completing his first mission which is the main collection of cometary particles already sent back to Earth in 2006.
Stardust-NEXT Mission has achieved its goals which include the observation of surface features that have changed in areas already seen during 2005 and the Deep Impact mission to observe the crater was launched in 2005 when an explosive projectile into the comet .
"This mission is a 100% successful," said Joe Veverka, investigator of Stardust-NEXT of Cornell University. "We saw a lot of new things that we did not expect and we will be working to understand what Tempel 1 is trying to tell us."
Many of the images provide interesting evidence on the outcome of the Deep Impact mission collided with Tempel 1.
"We see a crater with a small mound in the center and it seems that the ejected material has been moved to the right," said Pete Schultz of Brown University. "This tells us that this comet nucleus is fragile and weak in terms of how it has been the impact and function of the crater we see today."
Telemetry, after closest approach of the probe, indicating that flew through the waves to cometary particles, recording a dozen of impacts that have penetrated more than one layer of its protective shielding.
The data indicate that crossed the Stardust comet similar to what happened to a B-17 bomber flying under fire from a flak in World War II, "said Don Brownlee, co-investigator of Stardust-NEXT team University of Washington in Seattle.
Now the probe will continue to look at his last comet from afar.
"This satellite has accumulated more than 3.5 billion miles from the launch and while his latest close encounter is completed, the its mission of exploration is not over yet. "said Tim Larson, project manager at JPL Stardust-NEXT.
" We will continue to take pictures of the comet until the scientific team will feel useful information can be obtained and only then will the Stardust his well-earned rest. "
Stardust-Next is a low-cost mission that is expanding in a very fruitful the investigation of comet Tempel 1 taken by the Deep Impact probe.
Here you will find the latest pictures el: http:// www.nasa.gov / mission_pages / stardust / multimedia / gallery-index.html .
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