The successful conclusion of the Deep Space 1 Mission: important results without a flashy title

TLDR

After aggressive testing and no further objectives, DS1 was terminated on 18 Dec 2001, powering off its transmitter while leaving the receiver on. DS1 completed a flawless encounter with comet 19P/Borrelly, delivering detailed data and surprising insights, and returned a wealth of science and engineering data for future missions.

Abstract

In September 2001, Deep Space 1 (DS1) completed a high-risk and flawless encounter with comet 19P/Borrelly. Its data provide a detailed view of this comet and offere surprising and exciting insights. With this successful conclusion of its extended mission, DS1 undertook a hyperextended mission. Following this period of extremely agressive testing, with no further technology or science objectives, the mission was terminated on December 18, 2001, with the powering off of the spacecraft's trnasmitter, although the receiver was left on. By the end of its mission, DS1 had returned a wealth of important science data and engineering data for future missions.