Scientists pleased by Stardust sample return
Posted: Fri, Jan 20, 2006, 7:54 AM ET (1254 GMT)
Scientists involved with NASA's Stardust mission said Thursday that they were extremely happy with the cargo of cometary and interstellar dust returned by the spacecraft. The Stardust capsule parachuted to Earth early Sunday, nearly seven years after the spacecraft launched on its mission, and two years after it flew past the comet Wild-2. Project scientists said they were "totally overwhelmed" with the amount of dust captured by the spacecraft, embedded within blocks of aerogel. Over one million particles one micron or larger were collected, including one grain that created a hole in the aerogel large enough to stick a small finger into. Initial scientific results from studies of the particles are expected in March.
Scientists involved with NASA's Stardust mission said Thursday that they were extremely happy with the cargo of cometary and interstellar dust returned by the spacecraft. The Stardust capsule parachuted to Earth early Sunday, nearly seven years after the spacecraft launched on its mission, and two years after it flew past the comet Wild-2. Project scientists said they were "totally overwhelmed" with the amount of dust captured by the spacecraft, embedded within blocks of aerogel. Over one million particles one micron or larger were collected, including one grain that created a hole in the aerogel large enough to stick a small finger into. Initial scientific results from studies of the particles are expected in March.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Vast signs contract with SpaceX for ISS private astronaut missions
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:59 AM ET (1659 GMT) Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, December 26
Buy SpaceX Stock With Ease, But Beware The Risks
Forbes.com — 7:35 am ET (1235 GMT) ESA Enlists Portuguese Navy Submarine to Prepare for Deep Space
European Spaceflight — 7:22 am ET (1222 GMT) Has CNES Opened the Door for a European Space Station?
European Spaceflight — 7:21 am ET (1221 GMT) Scientists await signal from spacecraft after historic close encounter with the sun
NPR — 7:19 am ET (1219 GMT) Summer read: Cosmic Catastrophes
Cosmos Magazine — 7:18 am ET (1218 GMT) |
