IGBT
Lifer
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The Lockheed Martin-built spacecraft came within 150 miles of Comet Wild 2 in January 2004, when it captured thousands of particles being ejected from the comet by natural processes. The particles were trapped in lightweight blocks of aerogel set into an aluminum framework like ice cubes in an ice cube tray.
Scientists believe the particles have remained unchanged since the early formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. "These are literally the building blocks of our planetary system," Principal Investigator Don Brownlee said during a briefing in Washington Dec. 21.
The conical sample return canister will enter Earth's atmosphere over Nevada at 3:15 a.m. Mountain Time while moving at 28,860 mph, making it the fastest re-entry of a man-made object. A NASA DC-8 crew will track and observe the SRC as it slows and deploys its parachute to come in for what Project Manager Tom Duxbury hopes will be "a very soft landing" on the floor of the Great Salt Lake desert.
The Lockheed Martin-built spacecraft came within 150 miles of Comet Wild 2 in January 2004, when it captured thousands of particles being ejected from the comet by natural processes. The particles were trapped in lightweight blocks of aerogel set into an aluminum framework like ice cubes in an ice cube tray.
Scientists believe the particles have remained unchanged since the early formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. "These are literally the building blocks of our planetary system," Principal Investigator Don Brownlee said during a briefing in Washington Dec. 21.
The conical sample return canister will enter Earth's atmosphere over Nevada at 3:15 a.m. Mountain Time while moving at 28,860 mph, making it the fastest re-entry of a man-made object. A NASA DC-8 crew will track and observe the SRC as it slows and deploys its parachute to come in for what Project Manager Tom Duxbury hopes will be "a very soft landing" on the floor of the Great Salt Lake desert.
