spacetoday.net: Deep Impact exits safe mode

Posted: Fri, Jan 14, 2005, 8:29 AM ET (1329 GMT)
Deep Impact spacecraft illustration (NASA/JPL)

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has emerged from a safe mode it entered shortly after launch on Wednesday. The spacecraft went into safe mode shortly after it separated from its Delta 2 launch vehicle Wednesday when a sensor in the spacecraft's propulsion system reported higher than normal temperatures in the spacecraft's propulsion system. Engineers concluded that the temperatures did not pose a hazard a spacecraft, and commanded the spacecraft to resume normal operations on Thursday. The spacecraft is in good condition, having deployed its solar panels as planned while in safe mode. Deep Impact will encounter the comet Tempel 1 in July, deploying a probe that will impact the comet's nucleus on July 4.