 If the incoming Stardust spacecraft fails to deliver its capsule carrying a grab bag of interstellar and cometary goodies to Earth this weekend, scientists will have to wait several years before another attempt is possible.As the spacecraft now speeds toward Earth at 4 miles per second, still ahead for mission engineers is a go/no-go capsule separation decision. Space engineers need to assure themselves that all is precisely on track for the capsule’s deployment and skyrocketing descent into Utah. After nearly seven years and 2.88 billion miles of space travel, the NASA Stardust mission is slated to drop off on January 15 its sample return capsule carrying interstellar dust and comet particles. |
If the incoming Stardust spacecraft fails to deliver its capsule carrying a grab bag of interstellar and cometary goodies to Earth this weekend, scientists will have to wait several years before another attempt is possible.As the spacecraft now speeds toward Earth at 4 miles per second, still ahead for mission engineers is a go/no-go capsule separation decision. Space engineers need to assure themselves that all is precisely on track for the capsule’s deployment and skyrocketing descent into Utah. After nearly seven years and 2.88 billion miles of space travel, the NASA Stardust mission is slated to drop off on January 15 its sample return capsule carrying interstellar dust and comet particles.
Comments on "Back-Up Plan for Stardust Mission a Three-Year Detour"
post a comment