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Tune into NASA TV for live coverage and information about the mission.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
Stardust is a spacecraft that was launched by NASA in 1999 to collect samples from a comet and return them to Earth. Its return is significant because it provides valuable information about the composition and origins of comets, which can give us insight into the formation and evolution of our solar system.
The return of Stardust is expected at 1:57 PST, which means it is happening right now.
Stardust's return journey to Earth took 7 years, as it traveled millions of miles to reach the comet and then return to our planet.
Stardust is equipped with a sample collector, which used a special material called aerogel to capture particles from the comet's coma (or atmosphere). The spacecraft will then use a parachute to safely land in the Utah desert, where the samples will be retrieved by a team of scientists.
The samples collected by Stardust will provide valuable information about the composition of comets, which can help us understand the formation and evolution of our solar system. They may also contain organic molecules, which could give us insight into the origins of life on Earth.