The spacecraft Deep Space 1 was launched October 24, 1998 on top of a Delta-Rocket with a mass of 486.32kg (including fuel). The primary mission was the test of 12 advanced technologies, including an advanced ion-drive in order to lower the cost and risk of future missions. It succeeded in this task and made a flyby of the asteroid Braille and the comet Borrelly returning valuable science data and stunning pictures.
Deep Space 1 was retired December 18, 2001 and cost about $149.7 Million.
See also Unmanned space missions
External links
- 'Deep Space 1' website at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL):