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Scientists elated with initial Stardust comet flyby results BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: January 2, 2004 The Stardust probe flew through at least two significant jets of debris during its approach to comet Wild 2 today and captured a stunning image of the comet's icy heart showing overlapping pits and depressions where material boiled off in the past. At least five active jets can be seen in the black-and-white navigation camera image, along with a huge, partially shadowed pit that would hold dozens of Rose Bowl stadiums.
A spacesuited astronaut exposed to such debris "wouldn't exist anymore," he said. "You would have been sand blasted to little particles as fine as the dust." But Stardust, protected by thick bumpers, survived intact as it flew within 143 miles of Wild 2's nucleus at 2:22:20 p.m. EST (1922:20 GMT) today. Signals confirming the event reached Earth at 2:44 p.m. Scientists did not expect - and did not want - to fly through any active jets of debris out of fear large particles could damage the spacecraft. No such jets were predicted, but the comet had other ideas. "The data is just being looked at on the jets," said Don Brownlee, the principal investigator. "It certainly was surprising because we expected to see the flux increase at close approach and then decrease. What we saw was this big burst of particles, which would have terrified us and made our job much more difficult if we would have known about it ahead of time!" Said Duxbury: "There's a saying that ignorance is bliss. And this is something I was sure glad I was ignorant of. ... There were two significant jets we barreled right through. But as we know, we're here smiling, we did survive."
"These pictures are really going to open up a new window into understanding how comets actually work," Brownlee said. "Seeing those pits, you realize there's some process going on you didn't realize even existed before." The primary goal of the mission, however, is the collection and return to Earth of dust samples blown off the comet. Instruments on board the spacecraft clearly measured the bombardment as Stardust approached, leaving no doubt millions of particles were captured by the probe's aerogel-filled collector. The collector will be stowed over the next day or so and returned to Earth in two years when Stardust flies past. "It was a very thrilling day for us," Brownlee said. "This is a very challenging and daring mission - Stardust flying into really unknown territory, the rock and dust clouds surrounding an active comet. We have successfully collected samples from a comet and we're bringing them home for analysis in laboratories all over the world."
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VIDEO: STARDUST SURVIVES CLOSEST APPROACH TO COMET