[extropy-chat] SPACE: Deep Impact shows strong spectral lines...

[Mike Lorrey]

Observatories doing spectral analysis of post-Deep Impact ejecta show a
very strong presence of water, ethane, methanol, hydrogen cyanide,
acetylene, hydroxy, and carbon monoxide. The impactor apparently
vaporized only after penetrating deeply, raising impact site
temperatures to several thousand degrees.

The Spitzer space telescope will be observing Tempel until August 17th
to estimate a full assay of the material continuing to escape from the
crater created by the impactor. Preliminary info seems to confirm that
they will be very useful fuelling stations for future solar system
exploration and development.

In fact, hitching a ride on Tempel might be a really good way to send a
manned mission to Jupiter, as such a mission will have plenty of time
to refine cometary material to refuel their ship with once they've
rendezvoused with Tempel, fuel that will be very necessary to return to
Earth. Tempel currently has an orbital period of 5.5 years, a perhilion
of 1.5 AU, which is quite near Mars' orbit, and an aphelion that is
pretty near jupiter orbit.

This might be a good option for a successful mission to Mars: to
establish the infrastructure for a mission to Jupiter. An important
question: what future Tempel 1  perhilions bring it close to Mars
itself rather than just Mars orbit? Which such encounters bring it
closest to Jupiter?

Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com


		
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