[meteorite-list] Stardust Space Probe to Land in Utah Next Month

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Dec 12 14:26:09 2005
Message-ID: <200512121924.jBCJOXM14503_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=138424

Stardust Space Probe to Land in Utah Next Month
Associated Press
December 12, 2005

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- NASA scientists are looking for a nice, soft
landing with the Stardust space probe returns to Earth in Utah's west
desert next month.

At the least, they're hoping for a better landing on Jan. 15 than the
200 mph impact of the Genesis probe in September 2004. That mishap was
blamed on gravity sensors having been installed backward.

"We feel very comfortable that we don't have any errors like the
reversed (gravity) sensor for Genesis," said Thomas Duxbury, project
manager for NASA's Stardust mission.

Stardust, which was launched in 1999, flew through the tail of the Wild
2 comet last year to collect some of the microscopic debris streaming
from it.

Scientists believe comets preserve the solar system's original building
material, and hope the Stardust samples could give insight into the
processes involved in forming the sun, planets and other objects in the
solar system.

Despite the Genesis crash, scientists managed to salvage much of the
solar science from the Genesis collector equipment. The delicate nature
of the Genesis collector plates, where solar particles became embedded,
prompted engineers to design the softest possible landing. A helicopter
was to have snagged the probe as it descended by parachute. But the
parachute failed to open.

Stardust is to parachute to earth. Its collector material is sturdier
than that of Genesis, making it better able to handle a parachute landing.

A major reason for optimism about Stardust's gravity sensors is the
thorough review process scientists and engineers undertook during the
mission. Design plans, photographs and reports indicate the sensors are
properly installed and that everything else is up to specifications.

"There were no smoking guns. Everything was designed and implemented and
tested correctly," Duxbury said.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3301370

Scientists cross fingers for craft's landing

Stardust: NASA plans to land the probe in Utah, where the Genesis
mission ended in a crash

By Greg Lavine
The Salt Lake Tribune
December 12, 2005

This time around, NASA is counting on a softer landing.

As crews prepare for the Stardust mission's sample return probe to
land in Utah's west desert next month, they hope to avoid having to
scrape a craft off the desert floor again.

In September 2004, Hollywood stunt pilots waited in helicopters to
snag another incoming NASA probe in midair as it floated over the U.S.
Air Force's Utah Test and Training Range.

Instead, the trained helicopter crews became spectators as the
Genesis mission's probe - carrying bits of the sun - hurtled into the
mud at nearly 200 mph. Investigators blamed the 2004 crash on gravity
sensors that were installed backward. Had they been properly installed,
they would have triggered a parachute.

When NASA lands the Stardust probe in Utah on Jan. 15, officials are
confident they will avoid the same parachute problem.

"We feel very comfortable that we don't have any errors like the
reversed [gravity] sensor for Genesis," said Thomas Duxbury, project
manager for NASA's Stardust mission.

While Genesis collected solar particles coming off the sun, Stardust
is hauling back bits of a comet. The spacecraft in 2004 flew through the
tail of the Wild 2 comet to collect microscopic debris streaming from
the nucleus of the flying iceball.

Researchers designed Genesis and Stardust to collect material from
the earliest building blocks of our solar system and return to Earth.

Genesis researchers seek a better understanding of the composition
of the sun. This material could tell more about the origins of the solar
system.

For Stardust, scientists believe comets preserve the solar system's
original building material. Details gleaned from these samples could
give new insight into the processes involved in forming the sun, planets
and other objects in the solar system.

Despite the Genesis crash, scientists managed to salvage much of the
solar science from the Genesis collector equipment. The delicate nature
of the Genesis collector plates, where solar particles became embedded,
prompted engineers to design the softest possible landing.

Hollywood stunt pilots spent several years training to catch the
Genesis probe's parachute in midair to gently ease it to the ground.
NASA envisioned a spectacular daytime catch, which instead turned to
disaster when the parachute failed to open.

Expect less glitz for Stardust, which will land at 3 a.m. Helicopters
will be ready, but they will fly out to the probe after it has landed.
Stardust's collector material is sturdier than that of Genesis, meaning
it can handle a parachute
landing.

A major reason for optimism about Stardust's gravity sensors is the
thorough review process scientists and engineers undertook during the
mission. Design plans, photographs and reports indicate the sensors are
properly installed and that everything else is up to specifications.

"There were no smoking guns," Duxbury explained, "everything was
designed and implemented and tested correctly."

The gravity sensors are designed to detect the force of gravity as
the probe tears through the atmosphere. When "G" forces reach a certain
level, a circuit should prompt the parachute to deploy.

Everything about Stardust appears to have been built as specified.

"Now does that mean it's going to work?" asked Duxbury. "That's
another question."

Stardust has been touring the inner solar system since its 1999
launch. Components that have sat dormant for seven years need to operate
properly for a smooth landing. In many cases during landing, this will
be the first and only time the components will be activated.

Donald Brownlee, Stardust's principal investigator from the
University of Washington, said the launch and comet fly-by carried
greater risk for failure than what will happen in the home stretch.

"Frankly, the return is one of the least uncertain aspects of the
whole mission," he said.

About a day before landing, Stardust team members release the return
probe from the main spacecraft.

"We aim this thing at Utah and we release the capsule," he said.
"It's all on its own."

And if there is a problem, mission controllers can divert the entire
spacecraft into a new orbit before ejecting the capsule. The next
landing window would take place in about three years.

While waiting for the landing, scientists and engineers are going
through various worst-case scenarios and how they would respond. After
the spacecraft releases the return probe, all the Stardust team can do
is watch and wait.
Received on Mon 12 Dec 2005 02:24:32 PM PST