Unlike the small tantalum projectile that was fired at the asteroid in February as the spacecraft touched down on the surface, the impactor device detached from the spacecraft.
Incidentally, the deeply scary question of what happens if you accidentally become detached from your spacecraft and float irreversibly off into space brought back memories of Brian de Palma's little-liked Mission to Mars (2000).
About nine minutes out, the capsule detached from the spacecraft that had shepherded it from Earth.
In the animation, the giant rocket is seen with three boosters that are capable of landing safely back on Earth after they detach from the spacecraft -- a feat that's never quite been done before.
Photos transmitted from the main Rosetta spacecraft shortly after it detached included a parting shot of Philae heading toward 67P, and another that shows the lander shrinking from view.
After the spacecraft reaches initial orbital velocity, it may be detached from the launch vehicle's final upper stage to begin its mission.
Dust adhering to spacesuits (and subsequently detaching in a pressurized spacecraft) was a source of concern during the Apollo era.
At that point, a secondary probe named Philae will detach from the main spacecraft and descend to land on 67P's surface, another first.
Unlike other launch vehicles that detach themselves from their spacecraft payload when orbital speed is achieved, the shuttle orbiter, which weighs approximately 104,000 kg (229,000 pounds) when empty, is carried into orbit along with whatever payload it is carrying, two to seven crew members and their supplies, and fuel for orbital maneuvering and reentry.
As a result, the entire spacecraft must be returned to a processing building at Kennedy Space Center so the probe can be detached from the orbiter and then opened to examine the extent of damage.
The spacecraft completed its seven-year ride through the solar system in 2006 and, as it swung past Earth, detached a capsule containing the collected particles, which parachuted down.
