Posts by adastragrl

Comet-bomb interceptor makes low pass above Atlantic

TCM = Trajectory Correction Maneuver

TCMs are usually done using the engines on the spacecraft. TCM 9 basically setup the spacecraft to do a flyby of Earth to start the spacecraft's new mission to visit another comet.

recycled spacecraft

Actually, the original Deep Impact mission launched 2 spacecrafts: a washing machine sized flyby spacecraft and a smaller impactor which was released into the path of Tempel 1. The impactor actually hit the comet while the large spacecraft flew by taking pics. The flyby spacecraft still exists and works. So, NASA decided to repurpose the spacecraft. It has just enough fuel, along with some clever trajectory maneuvers to fly past another comet. Meanwhile, it also made observations of transiting exoplanets.

epoxi.umd.edu