Sunday, January 15, 2006

Safe landing for Stardust

At 05:10 EST (10:10 GMT) this morning the Stardust sample return capsule successfully made a soft landing in the Utah desert. NASA TV has podcast coverage of the landing...

CREDIT: NASA TV
At 5:10 a.m. Eastern time, Stardust's return capsule landed in the Utah Test and Training Range. Top: An infrared camera captures the Stardust sample return capsule as it descends to the Utah Test and Training Range. Bottom: The NASA TV image above shows an infrared view of a helicopter on the ground at the capsule landing site. The capsule contains cometary and interstellar samples gathered by the mission.

Update: The sample return capsule has now been recovered and moved to a temporary clean room at the Michael Army Air Field,

CREDIT: NASA
Top: The Stardust sample return capsule in the Utah desert. Middle: The capsule being lifted from the landing site. Bottom: Stardust sample return capsule being wheeled into a temporary cleanroom at the Michael Army Air Field in Utah.

Update: More from the New Scientist...

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