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NASA to Deep Six Deep Impact?

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
July 10, 2005

Go the Extra Mile, NASA, And Fund Another Deep Impact Mission, Aviation Week

“Deep Impact needs a trajectory change soon if it is to have enough propellant for a new mission. That change remained forbidden by NASA Headquarters as the spacecraft team celebrated their hard-won success on July 4, a sign of money troubles and uncertainty about directions at the agency. Clear heads prevailed on July 5 and the course change was approved–but not the extended mission.”

Will NASA Deny Deep Impact Another Comet Encounter?, SpaceRef

Editor’s note 7 July 7:00 AM EDT: Despite 3 requests all I have gotten back from PAO is one of the recipent’s replies that she was out of email communication the day after I sent the first email request.

Editor’s update 6 July 9:00 AM EDT: Late yesterday (Tuesday 5 July – after this article was published online) the Deep Impact team was told for the first time that there would now be enough money to perform the TCM (trajectory correction maneuver) required to send the spacecraft back toward Earth for a gravity assist to whatever new target is eventually chosen. In addition, yesterday evening, the team was informed that NASA had identified funding for a very minimal flight operations team – just enough to keep the spacecraft going until a new target is chosen. Meanwhile, as noted below, no one from NASA, JPL, or University of Maryland public affairs has responded to – or acknowledged my initial request several days ago.

Editor’s note: For the record, I just called NASA HQ PAO to ask about what effect tropical storm (hurricane) Dennis might have on STS-114 launch preps. To their credit I got a call back and a prompt albeit vague answer (“We are watching the situation”) in a matter of only a few (4 or 5) minutes.

Editor’s note: In addition I just (10:33 AM EDT) got a reminder call from HQ PAO about a sea level change briefing at NASA HQ tomorrow. Some parts of NASA PAO are clearly functioning perfectly!

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.