[meteorite-list] STARDUST Samples

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:25:36 2004
Message-ID: <200305072256.PAA28828_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.meteoriticalsociety.org/news_display.cfm?code=news_intro&itemID=15

STARDUST Samples
The Meteoritcal Society
April 29, 2003

In 2006 the STARDUST mission will return the
first samples of contemporary comet grains and
possibly interstellar dust to Earth. The goal of
the mission is to make the samples available
internationally to the widest possible spectrum
of qualified researchers.

Sample allocation will be made through the
Cosmic Dust Subcommittee of CAPTEM, and it
is anticipated that requests will be evaluated
by CAPTEM in the same manner as current
requests for interplanetary dust particles
(IDPs), i.e. through small research proposals
(2-5 pages).

Proposals will be judged not just on scientific
merit but also on small particle handling
expertise. For this reason, it is recommended
that investigators first experiment with small
matrix fragments of CI and CM meteorites and
then request an IDP allocation. IDPs can be
requested by contacting:

Dr Micheal Zolensky
Curator/Cosmic Dust
Code ST
Planetary Science Branch
NASA/Johnson Space Center
Houston,
Texas 77058
USA

All requests are evaluated on the basis of
originality, quality of the proposed research,
experience of the applicant(s), and the
availability of appropriate facilities. The Cosmic
Dust Subcommittee will provide guidelines in
microparticle handling to successful
applicant(s) if required.

A series of STARDUST workshops will be held
prior to sample return. The first, a science
meeting, will be held in August 2003. For
details visit:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/stardust2003/

A second meeting planned for Summer 2004
will be a hands-on workshop where methods
of extracting particles from aerogel, small
particle handling techniques, and particle
analysis methods will be covered. The
workshop will be held in the San Francisco
area. Interested participants should contact:

Dr John Bradley
Director
Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
7000 East Avenue
L-413
Livermore
CA 94550
jbradley_at_igpp.ucllnl.org

More info: CAPTEM Website - http://www.lpi.usra.edu/captem/
Received on Wed 07 May 2003 06:56:06 PM PDT