Feb 1, 2005 – Launched from Kennedy Space Center on January 12, 2005, NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft will fly nearly 83 million miles and rendezvous with the Tempel 1 comet. The spacecraft will release a 3-by-3 foot projectile (Impactor) which will crash onto the surface of the comet on July 4, 2005. The flyby spacecraft will collect imagery and data from the comet’s debris and the secrets of the comet’s makeup will be determined.

Fairchild Imaging designed and developed the visible focal plane arrays for both the flyby spacecraft as well as the Impactor. These 1,024 x 1,024, 21um pixel, split-frame-transfer focal plane arrays are back-illuminated CCD imagers and are optimized for quantum efficiency and sensitivity. These devices will provide the visible imagery of the comet and the comet’s interior. More information on these sensitive back illuminated CCD sensors can be found on our CCD 424 page.

To learn more about the Deep Impact mission please refer to:
http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/

For more information, contact William Walker, VP-Sales and Marketing, at Fairchild Imaging, 1801 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035, 408-433-2534, william.walker@fcimg.com.

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About Fairchild Imaging
Fairchild Imaging is a manufacturer and developer of electronic imaging components and systems. Located in Milpitas, CA, Fairchild Imaging is a privately held corporation whose major investors include The Carlyle Group, BAE Systems, and management. Information about Fairchild Imaging is available on the worldwide Web at www.fairchildimaging.com.