NASA Announces Comet Hunter Mission and Science Briefing

NASA’s Deep Impact mission is the subject of a pre-
launch mission and science news media briefing at 1 p.m. EST,
Tuesday, Dec. 14 in the NASA Headquarters Webb auditorium,
300 E St. S.W., Washington.

Planned liftoff for the mission is Jan. 8, 2005. NASA’s Deep
Impact spacecraft has a six-month, 431 million kilometer (268
million mile) voyage to comet Tempel 1, where it will send a
projectile crashing into the comet. The first time this has
ever been attempted, the impact should create a stadium-sized
crater, allowing scientists to study pristine material inside
the comet dating back to the formation of our solar system.

Briefing panelists:

• Andy Dantzler, Acting Director, Solar System Division, NASA Headquarters
• Tom Morgan, Deep Impact Program Scientist, NASHeadquarters
• Rick Grammier, Deep Impact Project Manager, JPL
• Mike A’Hearn, Deep Impact Principal Investigator, University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Karen Meech, Deep Impact Co-Investigator, Institute for Astronomy, (Hilo), Hawaii

The news conference will be carried live on NASA TV with two-
way question-and-answer capability from participating agency
centers. NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in
the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72
degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.
In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7,
Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The
frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio
is monaural at 6.80 MHz. It will also be webcast live at:

http://www.nasa.gov//deepimpact

Reporters may listen to the briefing by calling: 818/354-6666. Additional listen-only service is available at: 321/867-1220/1240/1260.