|
NASA's Stardust mission has brought samples from a
comet's tail back to Earth for analysis.
Stardust's deployable collector arrays were fitted with blocks
of aerogel, a silicon foam that is 99.8% air. The aerogel slowed down
and captured dust particles from the comet's tail, which were travelling
six times faster than a bullet, and samples of interstellar dust.
Stardust flew through the tail of Comet Wild-2 in January 2004. During the encounter, it
analysed and collected dust particles from the coma. On 15th January 2006, the sample
return capsule parachuted back down to Earth. Scientists are now examining the precious comet samples.
UK involvement
The Open University is involved in Stardust's Dust
Flux Monitor (DFM), which measured the size, distribution and movement
of dust particles in the comet's tail. For more details, click on the UK
involvement map
Stardust Links
Stardust mission homepage
Open University's Stardust pages
Introduction to comets
|
