NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft continues to close-in on comet Tempel 1. Late Saturday the probe will release a 39-inch-wide impactor into the path of comet. On July 3 at 22:52 PDT (±3 minutes) Earth-receive time, the impactor should hit its target.
Scientists hope the event will provide information about Tempel 1's basic structure and density. Material beneath the surface of the comet, relatively unchanged since the solar system's formation, may answer questions about its birth.
NASA TV (www.nasa.gov/ntv) plans to provide the following coverage of this unique mission:
| Date | PDT | Event |
|---|---|---|
| JUL 1 | 10:00-10:45 | Pre-impact mission engineering briefing |
| JUL 1 | 11:00-11:45 | Pre-impact mission science briefing |
| JUL 1 | 11:45-12:00 | Replay of images/animations |
| JUL 1 | 13:00-16:00 | Pre-impact live interviews |
| JUL 3 | 10:00-11:00 | Pre-impact separation/navigation update |
| JUL 3-4 | 20:30-00:30 | Commentary |
| JUL 4 | 01:00-02:00 | Post-impact press conference |
| JUL 4 | 04:00-07:00 | Post-impact live interviews |
| JUL 4 | 11:00-12:00 | Post-impact press conference |
| JUL 4 | 13:00-16:00 | Post-impact live interviews |
NASA TV is available over the Internet, via satellite, and reportedly on some cable TV systems.
Copyright © 2005, Brian Webb. All rights reserved.