Deep Impact First look inside a comet Dr. Paul Roche Faulkes Telescope Project Cardiff University.
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Deep Impact First look inside a comet Dr. Paul Roche Faulkes Telescope Project Cardiff University
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Transcript of Deep Impact First look inside a comet Dr. Paul Roche Faulkes Telescope Project Cardiff University.
Deep ImpactFirst look inside a comet
Dr. Paul RocheFaulkes Telescope Project
Cardiff University
Overview
• Intro to Deep Impact• Comets in history• The modern comet• Why study them?• Deep Impact mission summary
Comets in history
Isaac Newton, 1680
“Dirty snowballs”
Nucleus
Coma
Tails : dust, gas
Water + molecules
The Modern Comet
Why study comets?
Formation of Solar system Impacts and mass extinctions Life in the universe?
Solar System History
>4.6 Gydark cloud
Planets accrete
HadeanOceans + rocks form~4.4 Gy ago
Late planetary bombardmentComets bring water + organicsArchean
Oldest life on Earth3.5-3.8 Gy ago
Death of the Dinosaurs
Climate & Civilisation
Tree-rings & ice-cores“Extreme climatic downturns”
2345 BC Bronze Age 1628 BC 1159 BC 540 AD Dark Ages
Dragon myths?
Deep Impact MissionSummary
Comet Uncertainties Density? What lies beneath surface? Chemistry? Aging processes?
Comet Aging
Build up of surface dust Lower albedo Large grains cannot leave Uneven surface jets Non gravitational acceleration
Mission Profile
• Geocentric Dist 0.89 AU• Heliocentric Dist 1.49 AU
Primary Goal Differences between
interior and surface Pristine Solar System
material Secondary Goal
Cratering physics Assess comet impact
hazard Calibrate crater record Comet evolution
• 360 kg impactor• 10.2 km/s
Approach & Encounter
Tempel-1Nucleus
Shield ModeAttitude through
Inner Coma
Science and Autonav Imaging to
Impact + 800 sec
ITM-1 StartE-88 min
ITM-2E-48 min
ITM-3E-15 min
Impactor ReleaseE-24 hours
TCA +TBD sec
AutoNav EnabledE-2 hr
Flyby S/CDeflection Maneuver
E-23.5 hr
2-wayS-band
Crosslink
500 km
Spacecraft Overview
InstrumentsMRI, ITS, HRI
Launch 12/1/05& First Light
Flyby Simulation
Ground Science Nucleus size and albedo Nucleus rotation Dust scattering properties
Dust / Gas evolution Education & Public Outreach program
Summary
Deep Impact mission – live and exciting science
Studying properties of cometsFirst views “below surface”FTN will participate in scientific research
programmeOpportunities for schools involvement
