Deep Impact Comet-Smashing Video

DynaSoar writes "Dan Maas is the animation expert who produced NASA's Mars Rover animation which was subsequently used in the PBS Nova episodes 'Mars, Dead or Alive' and 'Welcome to Mars,' the majority of which was done while he was a Cornell student on a summer internship at NASA. His most recent release is NASA's best 'artist's conception' of the Tempel 1 Deep Impact mission. Nobody knows what will happen when 820 pounds of metal slams into the comet with 5 kilotons of force, but whatever happens, Maas's digital precreation is probably way more entertaining than NASA's imagery is likely to be. Two versions of the Deep Impact QuickTime video are available. A couple notes of interest: the original Mars video was produced as a music video, using Lenny Kravitz and Holst as soundtracks. This is available only to K-12 educators. Also, in the interview in the first link, when asked for an inspirational quote, he quotes John Carmack."

Comments

Oopsie...

[bwintx]

"And, this breaking news from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena: The recent Deep Impact mission accidentally steered a comet toward Earth, where it now will obliterate all known forms of animal life, including humans.

"However, a JPL spokesperson reminded reporters, the mission itself achieved complete success in meeting its own objectives and, quote, 'That's what the taxpayers should keep in mind.'"

It's 5 tons, not 5 kilotons!

[rben]

The impactor will hit the comet with a force equivalent to five tons of tnt. It will probably produce a crater anywhere from a few yards across to the size of a football stadium.