The team has received good data from an instrument that studies the three-dimensional distribution of ions and electrons, or plasma, and from an ion engine diagnostic instrument.

The best black-and-white image seen so far is at about 70 minutes prior to closest approach, with the asteroid appearing as just four pixels across. An apparent target-tracking problem appears to have jeopardized further photo return. Whether there are additional photos will be determined over the next 24 hours. Formal downlink sessions end this evening, but follow-up sessions will continue through the early morning.

The ion propulsion engine will be turned on again tomorrow in order to place the spacecraft on track for a possible flyby in January 2001 of Comet Wilson-Harrington as part of an extended mission after the primary mission concludes September 18, 1999. Comet Wilson-Harrington is believed to be either a dormant comet or a "transition object" that is in the process of changing from a comet to an asteroid.

The object has not been observed to behave like a comet -- spewing gas with a coma and tail -- since 1949; it is very unusual for a comet to exhibit this type of change in behavior. The second possible target of an extended mission, Comet Borrelly, is one of the most active comets that regularly visit the inner solar system. Deep Space 1 could fly by Borrelly in September 2001.

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Deep Space 1 Archives Deep Space 1 Cruises By Braille Deep Space Encounter Hours Away Deep Space Encounter Hours Away Encounter In Deep Space Don't Blink In Deep Space Asteroid Named Braille Deep Space Cruisin' DS1 Crew Clears The Deck Countdown to Asteroid Flyby Begins HAL Gets Straight A's Asteroid Encounter In Deep Space Truckin' With Hal In Deep Space Bug In Deep Space Infects HAL HAL Lives In Deep Space Deep Space 1 Completes Ion Burn PEPE Up In Deep Space High Tech In Deep Space Deep Space Offers New Technology Lab Deep Space Testbed A Growing Success Ion Engine Ready For Primary Engine Mode Deep Space One Gets A PEPE Deep Space Tests Out Okay First Ion Burn Completed Deep Space 1 Crusin' On Ions DS1 Restarts Ion Engine Motorola Keeps Deep Space 1 In Contact Ion Propulsion Could Fuel Deep Space Boom Deep Space 1 Lifts Off SEDSAT Puts Students Over The Earth Crusin' On Ions Deep Space 1 Ready To Launch Comets and Asteroids Get PEPE Get Ready For Deep Space 1

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Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India.