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Genesis

Genesis

Designed to gain a better understanding of our cosmic origins, the Genesis spacecraft was launched in August 2001 to collect solar wind samples and return them to Earth for study.

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Mission Statistics

Launch Date

Aug. 8, 2001

Type

Orbiter

Target

Solar System

Status

Past

About the mission

Designed to gain a better understanding of our cosmic origins, the Genesis spacecraft was launched in August 2001 to collect solar wind samples and return them to Earth for study.

In 2004, after completing its sampling phase at the Legrange point 1, or L1, the spacecraft released its sample return capsule, which made an unplanned hard landing when its parachute failed to deploy. Still, it marked NASA's first sample return since the final Apollo lunar mission in 1972, and the first material collected beyond the moon. Using the sample, researchers have already found evidence that the Earth possibly formed from different solar nebula materials than those that created the sun.

June 2011: Researchers studying the solar wind return sample from the Genesis spacecraft find evidence that the Earth possibly formed from different solar nebula materials than those that created the sun.

Instruments

  • Plasma spectrometers
  • Sample collection arrays
  • Return capsule

Mission Highlights

Nov. 16, 2001

The Genesis spacecraft arrives at Legrange point 1, or L1.

April 1, 2004

The Genesis spacecraft completes its sampling of the solar wind.

Sept. 8, 2004

The Genesis spacecraft releases a sample return capsule, which enters Earth's atmosphere. Although the capsule makes a hard landing as a result of a failed parachute in the Utah Test and Training Range in Dugway, Utah, it marks NASA's first sample return since the final Apollo lunar mission in 1972, and the first material collected beyond the moon.

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› Mission Website
› NASA Mission Website
› Fact Sheet
› Launch Press Kit
› Return Press Kit
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