When Deep Impact smashed into comet Tempel 1 on July 4, 2005, it released the ingredients of our solar system's primordial "soup."
Painting by the numbers is a good description of how scientists create pictures of everything from atoms in our bodies to asteroids and comets in our solar system.
Today's scheduled burn places the spacecraft on a trajectory to fly past Earth in late December 2007.
Data from Deep Impact's instruments indicate an immense cloud of fine powdery material was released when the probe slammed into the nucleus of comet Tempel 1.
The hyper-speed demise of NASA's Deep Impact probe generated an immense flash of light, which provided an excellent light source for the two cameras on the Deep Impact mothership.
After 172 days and 431 million kilometers (268 million miles) of deep space stalking, Deep Impact successfully reached out and touched comet Tempel 1.
One hundred and seventy-one days into its 172-day journey to comet Tempel 1, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft successfully released its impactor at 11:07 p.m. Saturday, Pacific Daylight Time.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft continues to sail through its final checkout, as it hurtles toward comet Tempel 1.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft observed a massive, short-lived outburst of ice or other particles from comet Tempel 1.
After a voyage of 173 days and 431 million kilometers (268 million miles), NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft will get up-close and personal with comet Tempel 1 on July 4 (EDT).
On July 4, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft concludes a six-month, 268 million mile voyage to comet Tempel 1 by sending a projectile crashing into the cosmic traveler.
Two of NASA's eyes in the sky, the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes, helped scientists prepare for the comet Tempel 1 encounter.
Fifty-nine days before going head-to-head with comet Tempel 1, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft successfully executed the second trajectory correction maneuver of the mission.
Sixty-nine days before it gets up-close-and-personal with a comet, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft successfully photographed its quarry, comet Tempel 1.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has completed the commissioning phase of the mission and has moved into the cruise phase.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft is out of safe mode and healthy, and on its way to an encounter with comet Tempel 1 on July 4, 2005.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft began its 431 million kilometer (268 million mile) journey to comet Tempel 1 today at 1:47:08 p.m. EST.
NASA Direct, NASA Kennedy Space Center's Web broadcast network, is featuring a prelaunch webcast and launch day coverage of NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft. The launch is set for Wednesday, Jan. 12.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft will launch on January 12, 2005.
Deep Impact, a NASA spacecraft to be the first to probe beneath the surface of a comet and reveal the secrets of its interior, will be available for a press opportunity.