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Scientists elated with initial Stardust comet flyby results BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: January 2, 2004 The Stardust probe flew through at least two significant jets of debris during its approach to comet Wild 2 today and captured a stunning image of the comet's icy heart showing overlapping pits and depressions where material boiled off in the past. At least five active jets can be seen in the black-and-white navigation camera image, along with a huge, partially shadowed pit that would hold dozens of Rose Bowl stadiums.
A spacesuited astronaut exposed to such debris "wouldn't exist anymore," he said. "You would have been sand blasted to little particles as fine as the dust." But Stardust, protected by thick bumpers, survived intact as it flew within 143 miles of Wild 2's nucleus at 2:22:20 p.m. EST (1922:20 GMT) today. Signals confirming the event reached Earth at 2:44 p.m. Scientists did not expect - and did not want - to fly through any active jets of debris out of fear large particles could damage the spacecraft. No such jets were predicted, but the comet had other ideas. "The data is just being looked at on the jets," said Don Brownlee, the principal investigator. "It certainly was surprising because we expected to see the flux increase at close approach and then decrease. What we saw was this big burst of particles, which would have terrified us and made our job much more difficult if we would have known about it ahead of time!" Said Duxbury: "There's a saying that ignorance is bliss. And this is something I was sure glad I was ignorant of. ... There were two significant jets we barreled right through. But as we know, we're here smiling, we did survive."
"These pictures are really going to open up a new window into understanding how comets actually work," Brownlee said. "Seeing those pits, you realize there's some process going on you didn't realize even existed before." The primary goal of the mission, however, is the collection and return to Earth of dust samples blown off the comet. Instruments on board the spacecraft clearly measured the bombardment as Stardust approached, leaving no doubt millions of particles were captured by the probe's aerogel-filled collector. The collector will be stowed over the next day or so and returned to Earth in two years when Stardust flies past. "It was a very thrilling day for us," Brownlee said. "This is a very challenging and daring mission - Stardust flying into really unknown territory, the rock and dust clouds surrounding an active comet. We have successfully collected samples from a comet and we're bringing them home for analysis in laboratories all over the world."
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Mission data Encounter - Detailed preview of Stardust's rendezvous with Comet Wild 2. The return - How Stardust brings the comet samples back to Earth. Stardust - A technical description of the spacecraft and its various pieces. Comet Wild 2 - Comet is the right snowball in right place at the right time for Stardust mission. Science - A look at the scientific objectives of the Stardust mission. Curation - An overview of how the samples will be handled on Earth and planetary protection issues. Other missions - Several past spacecraft have studied comets and future missions are planned.  Soviet Space  For the first time ever available in the West. Rocket & Space Corporation Energia: a complete pictorial history of the Soviet/Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day all in full color. Available from our store. Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Viking patch  This embroidered mission patch celebrates NASA's Viking Project which reached the Red Planet in 1976.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Apollo 7 DVD  For 11 days the crew of Apollo 7 fought colds while they put the Apollo spacecraft through a workout, establishing confidence in the machine what would lead directly to the bold decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon just 2 months later.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Gemini 12  Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Apollo Collage  This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.U.S. STORENext Shuttle Mission Patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses!  The final planned flight of space shuttle Discovery is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-133. Available in our store!U.S. STOREWORLDWIDE STORESpecial shuttle history patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses!  This special commemorative patch marks the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Available in our store!U.S. STOREWORLDWIDE STORE Project Orion  The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.U.S. STOREFallen Heroes Patch Collection  The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.U.S. STOREWORLDWIDE STORESTS-134 Patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses!  The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!U.S. STOREWORLDWIDE STOREColumbia Report  A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Mars Panorama  DISCOUNTED! This 360 degree image was taken by the Mars Pathfinder, which landed on the Red Planet in July 1997. The Sojourner Rover is visible in the image. Choose your store:U.S. Apollo 11 Mission Report  Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD!Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Rocket DVD  If you've ever watched a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base or even Kodiak Island Alaska, there's no better way to describe what you witnessed than with this DVD.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Get e-mail updates Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose).
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