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J. M. Sunshine (SAIC), P. H. Schultz (Brown Univ.), M. F. A'Hearn, O. Groussin, L. A. McFadden (Univ. of Maryland), K. P. Klaasen (JPL), D. Hampton (Ball Aerospace), Deep Impact Team
The Deep Impact Discovery mission is scheduled to create an impact event on the comet 9 P/Tempel 1 in July of 2005. The primary flyby spacecraft includes both multi-spectral imagers and a 1.0 to 4.8 micron infrared spectrometer designed to observe the comet before, during, and after impact. Here we present our sequence design and range of expectations for nucleus observations with this instrument. Of particular interest is our unique capability to monitor the ejecta from the nucleus during the crater formation process. Over this time period, ejecta from increasingly deeper within the nucleus will pass through the slit. Thus, evolution of the spectroscopic signatures across the slit will help to assess compositional changes with depth (e.g., the depth to pristine volatiles). After the crater formation event has concluded, the newly created crater and its ejecta blanket will be observable at increasingly higher spatial resolution until the spacecraft turns to position its shielding for orbit plane crossing.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.