Comet Tempel 1 from Stardust NeXT Spacecraft . ... Therefore, the unprecedented pass of the Stardust-NeXT spacecraft near Comet Tempel 1 earlier this week gave humanity a unique opportunity to see how the nucleus of a comet changes over time. Changes in the nucleus of Comet Tempel 1 were of particular interest because the comet was hit with an impactor from the passing Deep Impact spacecraft in 2005. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...