NASA's Stardust Mission a success

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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SUMMARY

The NASA Stardust mission successfully captured particles from the tail of a comet after a five-year journey covering 2.3 billion miles. The spacecraft not only collected these samples but also maintained communication with mission control throughout the operation. Scheduled to return in 2006, the samples are anticipated to provide significant insights into the origins of the universe. Quarantine measures for the samples upon their return are a topic of interest among observers.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of space missions and their objectives
  • Familiarity with cometary science and particle collection techniques
  • Knowledge of NASA's Stardust spacecraft specifications
  • Awareness of planetary protection protocols
NEXT STEPS
  • Research NASA's Stardust mission details and objectives
  • Explore cometary science and the significance of comet dust analysis
  • Learn about planetary protection and quarantine measures for extraterrestrial samples
  • Investigate the technologies used in the Stardust spacecraft for sample collection
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, space enthusiasts, researchers in planetary science, and anyone interested in the implications of cometary research on our understanding of the universe.

Ivan Seeking
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Spacecraft survives close encounter with comet
'Stardust' to bring back particles that could unlock secrets of the universe
By Jeordan Legon
CNN
Friday, January 2, 2004 Posted: 6:17 PM EST (2317 GMT)

The Stardust spacecraft captured rare pictures of the nucleus of a comet.

(CNN) -- After traveling five years and 2.3 billion miles, a speeding NASA space probe pounced on the shimmering tail of a comet Friday, and appeared to trap tiny space dust to bring back to Earth without losing contact with mission control.


http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/02/stardust.comet/index.html

Yay!
 
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I wholeheartedly concur with your assesment of the mission so far; "yay!". 2006 the sample should arrive, I wonder what, if any, quarentine measures are planned? Can't wait to see the data we get form these samples!
 

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