# Deep Impact Impactor

> NASA spacecraft designed to collide with Comet 9P/Tempel 1 to be observed by the Deep Impact Flyby space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q112958759](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112958759)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/deep-impact-impactor

## Summary
The Deep Impact Impactor was a NASA spacecraft specifically designed to collide with Comet 9P/Tempel 1. Launched on January 12, 2005, it functioned as an impact probe within the Deep Impact mission, successfully striking the comet on July 4, 2005, to allow the accompanying Flyby space probe to observe the resulting debris and crater.

## Key Facts
- **Mass:** 372 kg (launch weight); 364 kg (dry weight).
- **Dimensions:** 1.0 meter width and 1.0 meter length.
- **Launch Date:** January 12, 2005 (18:47:08).
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta II (D311).
- **Manufacturer:** Ball Aerospace & Technologies.
- **Operator:** Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- **Mission End:** July 4, 2005 (05:44:34), defined by impact with Tempel 1.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2005-001D; NSSDCA ID 2005-001D.
- **Power Source:** Primary cell (battery).

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Deep Impact Impactor?
A: The Impactor was designed to deliberately crash into Comet 9P/Tempel 1 without braking. This collision was intended to excavate material from the comet's interior so the Deep Impact Flyby probe could analyze the composition and crater formation.

### Q: When and where did the Deep Impact Impactor hit the comet?
A: The spacecraft successfully impacted Comet 9P/Tempel 1 on July 4, 2005, at 05:44:34 Spacecraft Event Time.

### Q: Was the Deep Impact Impactor a standalone mission?
A: No, it was a component of the larger Deep Impact mission, which included a separate Flyby spacecraft for observation. The Impactor was launched attached to the Flyby spacecraft but separated prior to the collision.

## Why It Matters
The Deep Impact Impactor represents a significant milestone in planetary science and aerospace engineering. As a specialized "impact probe," it demonstrated the ability to target and hit a celestial body traveling at high speeds in deep space with extreme precision. By colliding with Comet 9P/Tempel 1, the probe allowed scientists to look beneath the surface of a comet for the first time, providing crucial data regarding the composition and properties of primordial solar system material.

Managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies as part of NASA's Discovery Program, the mission validated the use of kinetic impactors for scientific research. The data gathered helped answer fundamental questions about the formation of the solar system and the nature of cometary nuclei, distinguishing the Impactor as a unique, single-use scientific instrument that fulfilled its objective upon its own destruction.

## Notable For
- **First Planetary Impact:** Being a specialized spacecraft class ("impact probe") designed explicitly to impact a comet without braking maneuvers.
- **Precision Targeting:** Successfully navigating to and impacting a small, fast-moving celestial body (Tempel 1) on July 4, 2005.
- **Mission Profile:** Operating on a non-rechargeable power source (primary cell) until its planned destruction.
- **Discovery Program:** Serving as a key component of a cost-effective, focused NASA exploration mission.

## Body
### Design and Specifications
The Deep Impact Impactor was a compact spacecraft, measuring approximately 1.0 meter in both width and length. It had a launch mass of 372 kilograms and a dry mass of 364 kilograms. Unlike long-duration probes that utilize solar panels or Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), the Impactor was powered by a primary cell (a non-rechargeable battery) with a capacity of 250 units, sufficient for its short, terminal mission duration. It is classified as a former entity and an instance of an impact probe.

### Launch and Deployment
The Impactor was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B on January 12, 2005, at 18:47:08. It rode into orbit aboard a Delta II launch vehicle (specifically the D311 configuration). While launched as part of the Deep Impact stack, it is identified distinctly by the COSPAR ID 2005-001D. The mission was managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with the hardware manufactured by Ball Aerospace & Technologies.

### Impact and Conclusion
The operational life of the Deep Impact Impactor concluded on July 4, 2005. Traveling independently in the final phase of the mission, it successfully collided with Comet 9P/Tempel 1 at 05:44:34 Spacecraft Event Time. This event marked the "dissolved, abolished or demolished date" for the entity, fulfilling its primary objective of creating an impact event for observation by the Flyby spacecraft.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/101992main_factsheet-color-11-19-04.pdf)
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/103744main_presskit_121404.pdf)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/deep_impact.htm)
5. [Source](https://pds.nasa.gov/ds-view/pds/viewContext.jsp?identifier=urn%3Anasa%3Apds%3Acontext%3Ainstrument_host%3Aspacecraft.dii&version=1.2)
6. [Source](https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/deep-impact-epoxi/in-depth/)