Sample Return
On January 16, 2006, at 05:57:00 UTC, the Sample Return Capsule successfully separated from Stardust and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere at 09:57:00 UTC, at a velocity of 12.9 km/s, the fastest re-entry speed into Earth's atmosphere ever achieved by a man-made object. The capsule then parachuted to the ground, finally landing at 10:10:00 UTC at the Utah Test and Training Range (40°21.9′N 113°31.25′W / 40.365°N 113.52083°W / 40.365; -113.52083), near the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. The capsule was then transported by military aircraft from Utah to Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas, then transferred by road to the Planetary Materials Curatorial facility at Johnson Space Center in Houston to begin analysis. NASA officials claimed "prudence" dictated that the materials be transferred in secrecy, though no security threats were apparent.
- News related to Stardust lands in Utah successfully at Wikinews
Read more about this topic: Stardust (spacecraft)
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