Jan 17, 2024
NASA’s Stardust Mission Samples Reveals New Secrets of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Comet
Posted by Laurence Tognetti, Labroots Inc. in categories: materials, space
“The Stardust samples, microscopic grains from a body less than two miles wide, contain a record of the deep past covering billions of miles,” said Dr. Ryan Ogliore. “After 18 years of interrogating this comet, we have a much better view of the solar system’s dynamic formative years.”
What can samples collected from a comet almost 20 years ago tell us about the history of comets and our solar system? This is what a recent study published in Geochemistry hopes to address as a researcher from the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) analyzed samples from Comet 81P/Wild 2 that were returned to Earth almost exactly 18 years ago today. This study holds the potential to help scientists not only gain greater insights into the origin and history of comets, but of our solar system, as well.
Image of the Stardust sample return capsule being retrieved inside a protective covering after it was collected from its landing site at the U.S. Air Force Utah Test and Training Range in January 2006. (Credit: NASA)
Continue reading “NASA’s Stardust Mission Samples Reveals New Secrets of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Comet” »