Stardust

Comet Sample Return Mission

LaunchFeb 07, 1999

1st Interstellar Dust Collection Feb-May 2000

2nd Interstellar Dust Collection Aug-Dec 2002

Asteroid Annefrank FlybyNov 02, 2002

Comet Wild 2 EncounterJan 02, 2004

Earth ReturnJan 15, 2006

Stardust Timeline

STARDUST SPACECRAFT

The Stardust MissionThe Stardust Mission

► Collect samples of dust from comet Wild-2 (pronounced “Vilt-2”)

► Collect interstellar dust samples along the way

► Real-time analysis of dust composition and numbers of particles

► Return dust samples to Earth!

Mission TrajectoryMission Trajectory

► To meet comet Wild-2 and return samples to Earth, Stardust made 3 orbits around the Sun

► Comet Wild-2 will be encountered on the second orbit

► Samples of interstellar dust were collected during the first 2 orbits

Stardust FirstsStardust Firsts

► First U.S. mission dedicated to studying comets

► First robotic mission designed to return material from outside the Moon’s orbit

► Farthest distance from Sun for a solar-powered spacecraft

Why Comet Wild-2?Why Comet Wild-2?

► Comets are thought to be some of the oldest objects in the Solar System

► Comet materials may contain clues to the origins of life

► Comet Wild-2 is a “fresh” periodic comet. Its orbit was changed in 1974 after a close encounter with Jupiter.

Catching Comet Dust

► Aerogel is used to capture comet samples and interstellar dust

► Must capture high-speed particles without heating them and altering their composition

Particles Captured in Aerogel

What is Aerogel?What is Aerogel?

► Special porous material

► 99.8% air

► 39 times better insulator than fiberglass

► 1,000 times less dense than glass

► Used on Mars Pathfinder rover

Crayons On Aerogel Over A Flame

Aerogel is fitted into a “tennis-racket” shaped collector

One side of the collector faces toward the particles in Comet Wild 2, while the reverse side is turned toward streams of interstellar dust encountered during its journey

After the encounter comet Wild-2, the collector will be returned to Earth

Dust collector assembly with aerogel foam material in place and particles that have been captured in aerogel

Returning Samples to EarthReturning Samples to Earth

► Stardust and its cargo of samples will return to Earth on January 15, 2006

► The re-entry capsule, weighing about 125 pounds, will parachute to a landing in Utah

Sample Return Capsule after a successful drop test

Stardust is a part of NASA’s Discovery Program