comet missile mission

[p_dub247]

hi all, im new to this site an everything about space fasinates me.. but this mission to put a dent in this comet..<br /><br />pls tell me theyve made sure they dont knock it off course making it collide with us, or another significant body in space, both now and on its next orbit

 

[Leovinus]

I heard that same question being asked at a press conference around launch time.<br /><br />A) The comet is not on an Earth-crossing path -- it orbits between Jupiter and Mars.<br />B) The probe's mass compared to the comet's mass are like a bug hitting a windshield of your car. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>