The Stardust spacecraft launches as part of NASA's suite of low-cost, science-focused Discovery missions. It will fly through comet Wild 2 in 2004 and uses a unique substance called aerogel to collect cometary and interstellar dust particles for analysis. In 2006, Stardust will be the first comet-sample-return mission when it delivers its return capsule to the Air Force's Utah Testing and Training Range.

See also: Stardust home page

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