IPFS News Link • Space Travel and Exploration
On This Day in Space! Jan. 15, 2006: Stardust spacecraft returns samples of comet dust
• Space.com - Hanneke WeiteringAfter spending seven years in space, the 100-lb. capsule touched down in Utah. Scientists analyzed the dust grains and discovered some organic compounds, like nitrogen and hydrocarbons.
Scientist also found material that was older than the sun. Just as they suspected, the particles collected by the Stardust mission turned out to be leftovers of the ancient building blocks of our solar system.