Stardust Entry Path To Be Visible In Northwest

IRON AND ICE

Stardust Rentry Overview Map

Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 10, 2006
On January 15, 2006, after more than 7 years and billions of miles of travel through space, NASA's Stardust spacecraft will release a 100-pound sample return capsule (SRC) to Earth with some precious cargo - pristine samples of comet and interstellar dust.

Stardust will provide the world's first opportunity to analyze preserved samples of the fundamental building blocks of our Solar System that formed 4.6 billion years ago.

During the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, January 15th, the Stardust sample return capsule's entry will occur at approximately 2:57 am Mountain time. Peak re-entry heating is expected to occur at an altitude of 61 km, (200,000 ft or 38 statute miles). The main heating-phase occurs over northern central Nevada, somewhat west & south of the corresponding Genesis re-entry phase.

Because the entry occurs in the pre-dawn darkness, the influence of the moon is important for those viewing reentry. At that date & time the moon will be just past full and will be high in the sky to the southwest (66 degrees Elevation and -133 degrees Azimuth). For that reason, it is believed that the best observing location will be south of the ground track (Figure 1), placing the Moon at your back.

There will be many other acceptable viewing sites right along the I-80 corridor in Nevada beginning from Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, and Dunphy, as well as Carlin. Towns such as Elko, Nevada are close to the ground track but because Elko faces northward, it may not be as good of a viewing site. Despite what location you view the SRC entry, keep in mind that you will only see it for about 30 seconds using a 20 deg horizon visibility mask.

For those setting up instruments, there are some suitable state parks such as South Fork Reservoir, which is about 16 miles south of Elko, Nevada that would provide public land, and the ability to set up instruments and camp. This site is located right under the flight path so the SRC would go straight overhead about 50 miles downrange from the peak heating point (peak heating is at 43 degree elevation). Whether the park is open seems to depend on snow conditions so you should check with Nevada Division of State Parks before arriving.

Although it is difficult to pinpoint exactly the "best" viewing location, any site within the entry ground track and facing south would be more ideal.

One final note, the sonic boom takes quite a while to travel down through 40 miles of the Earth's atmosphere - so you need to expect it to sound about 3 minutes after the SRC passes overhead.

IRON AND ICE

LockMart-Built Stardust Spacecraft Ready To Return Comet Samples To Earth

Denver CO (SPX) Jan 12, 2006
A capsule containing comet particles and interstellar dust samples collected in space by NASA's Stardust spacecraft - designed and built by Lockheed Martin - is heading to Earth for a parachute landing early on the morning of January 15, 2006, in northwest Utah.

NASA Prepares For Return Of Interstellar Cargo

Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 28, 2005
NASA's Stardust mission is nearing Earth after a 4.63 billion kilometer (2.88 billion mile) round-trip journey to return cometary and interstellar dust particles back to Earth. Scientists believe the cargo will help provide answers to fundamental questions about comets and the origins of the solar system.

Stardust Nears End Of Epic Journey

Donald Brownlee's heart skipped a beat six years ago when the launch of the Stardust spacecraft didn't happen as planned. The University of Washington astronomy professor has experienced many other tense times since the historic mission blasted off a day late, and its return to Earth on Jan. 15 will be just one more white-knuckle moment.

Stardust Mission To Rendezvous January 15

Pasadena CA (JPL) January 05, 2006
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.

Stardust Entry Path To Be Visible In Northwest

Pasadena CA (SPX) Jan 12, 2006
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted what may be comet dust sprinkled around the white dwarf star G29-38, which died approximately 500 million years ago.

Public To Look For Dust Grains In Stardust Detectors

Berkeley CA (SPX) Jan 11, 2006
Astronomy buffs who jumped at the chance to use their home computers in the SETI@home search for intelligent life in the universe will soon be able to join an Internet-based search for dust grains originating from stars millions of light years away.