Stardust

[yanks1419]

After nearly 3 billion miles, round trip, journey to a comet, a NASA spacecraft, Stardust, is returning to Earth with samples of cosmic and interstellar dust particles.The Stardust mission launched in 1999 caught up with the comet "Wild Two" in January of last year and collected samples. The capsule will land at the U.S. Air Force Utah Test and Training Range at 5:12 a.m. EST on Jan. 15. The map showing where the capsule will land: click here <br />When Stardust comes through our Atmosphere, it will be going at 28,860 mph. At that speed Stardust has the 2nd highest speed ever attained by human beings. Its return capsule weighs 101lbs. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stardust/news/stardust-20051221.html : That is NASA's site for Stardust. <br /><br />P.S. if you need more links on Stardust just e-mail me at yankees_andrew14@yahoo.com <br /><br /> (First link edited for better display.)

 

[gunsandrockets]

heh<br /><br />Project SCOOP. <br /><br />"Sir, there's been a fire."<br /><br />Remember Michael Crichton's 'The Andromeda Strain'?

 

[telfrow]

Error code 601. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Release: 2006-003 Jan. 5, 2006<br /><br /><br />Stardust Mission Status Report<br /><br /> <br /><br />Ten days before its historic return to Earth with the first-ever samples from a comet, NASA's Stardust spacecraft successfully performed its 18th flight path adjustment. This second-to-last scheduled maneuver puts the spacecraft on the right path to rendezvous with Earth on Jan. 15 (Universal Time), when it will release its sample return capsule. <br /><br /><br />At 1800 Universal Time (10:00 am Pacific Time) on Thursday, Jan. 5, Stardust fired all eight of its 4.4 newton (1-pound) thrusters for a total of 107 seconds, changing the comet sampler's speed by 2.4 meters per second (about 5.4 miles per hour). The maneuver required 385 grams (0.85 pounds) of hydrazine monopropellant to complete. A final trajectory correction maneuver is scheduled prior to release of the sample return capsule.<br /> <br /><br />"It was a textbook maneuver," said Ed Hirst, Stardust deputy mission manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "After sifting through all the post-burn data, I expect we will find ourselves right on the money."<br /> <br /><br />In the early morning hours of January 15, 2006, the Stardust mission returns to Earth after a 4.63 billion kilometer (2.88 billion mile) round-trip journey carrying a precious cargo of cometary and interstellar dust particles. Scientists believe Stardust’s cargo will help provide answers to fundamental questions about the origins of the solar system.<br /> <br /><br />Scientists believe in-depth terrestrial analysis of cometary samples will reveal much not just about comets but about the earliest history of the solar system. Locked within the cometary particles is unique chemical and physical information that could be the record of the formation of the planets and the materials from which they were made.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Extensive information o <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

I reckon seeing the re-entry would be worth the while taking a cruise out there. Wish I was close by. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"After the Genesis mishap, engineers spent several months combing over Stardust's blueprints and feel confident that the switches were correctly oriented. "<br /><br />I guess what they are saying here is, the blueprint of Genesis was drawn incorrectly with the switchs upside down, not an engineer installing them upside down. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

You can pre-reisgter to participate in Stardust @ Home here . <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Cool! Thanks for the link. I might look into joining up once Stardust safely touchs down. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

5 days left! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

<bump><br /><br />13 hours to touchdown.<br /><br />Capsule Milestones (all times approximate EST on Jan. 15) <br /><br /><br />12:57 a.m.: Spacecraft releases capsule <br />4:57 a.m.: Capsule enters Earth atmosphere <br />5:05 a.m.: Main parachute deploys <br />5:12 a.m.: Capsule lands <br />5:22 a.m. (approx.): Helicopter and crew land near capsule<br />7:20 a.m. (approx.): Capsule arrives at temporary cleanroom <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[henryhallam]

Fingers crossed! I'm sure the accelerometers were installed correctly on Stardust but I really hope nothing else has been overlooked!

 

[telfrow]

Live coverage begins at 4:30 am EST on NASA-TV. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[flynn]

Fingers crossed here too.<br /><br />Hoping for a successfull touch down and some exciting findings. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[yanks1419]

oh my God.......... what is that in the sky, is it a bird, a plane, SUPERMAN!!, no it's <font color="red">STARDUST</font> lol i cant wait i am going to be up this morning checking if it landed ok or if anything happened. 2.88 billion miles in 7 years. cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant waitcant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait cant wait...... like i said i cant wait, can you?.................... Na to tell you the truth i dont care if you cant wait. well i mean i could care if you agreed with me. CAN U WAIT(WARNING: this is a retorical question.) lol<br />

 

[Leovinus]

If it crashed in snow, you can bet it will be hot and can be found with IR. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[fatal291]

if I can't stay up will they re-air it or what cause i dont get nasa tv on tv anymore i have to come online.

 

[yurkin]

WooHoo its looking good

 

[yurkin]

uhuh no drogue shute deployed

 

[telfrow]

Main chute confirmed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[yurkin]

Main Chute Deployed!!<br /><br />Looks like the made it. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[telfrow]

Touchdown! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[telfrow]

UHF beacon signal detected. Search continues. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Believe it or not, we are listening to the live coverage here on the China / Myanmar border! Great stuff! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[telfrow]

I'm a little confused here - now they're saying no UHF beacon and no landing coordinates. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Chute sighted. Recovery helicopter has landed and is investigating. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>