Deep Impact spacecraft, illustration. Deep Impact was launched to study the composition of comet 9P/Tempel 1. The spacecraft consisted of an impactor, which was successfully launched at the nucleus of the comet on 4 July 2005, and a flyby probe that collected pictures and data from the impact. Material ejected from the impact indicated that under the surface of the comet is microscopic dust, water and carbon dioxide ice and hydrocarbons.