Photo Gallery Comet Dust and Space Particles
A Boeing Delta II rocket carrying the Stardust spacecraft launches from Cape Canaveral Air Station in July 1999 -- the beginning of a seven-year mission.
An artist's depiction of a view of comet Wild 2 as seen from NASA's Stardust spacecraft as it flew by the comet on Jauary 2, 2004.
The NASA Stardust space probe on re-entry above the state of Utah. Stardust pierced Earth's atmosphere at a flaming 29,000 mph (46,670 kph), the fastest return of any man-made probe, but still safely returned its precious cargo of comet dust.
A NASA recovery team opens Stardust's particle capsule. The spacecraft spent seven years in space and travelled more than 2.88 billion miles before returning to earth.
This NASA TV image shows the Stardust sample return capsule in a temporary cleanroom at the Michael Army Air Field in Utah.
A stellar moment -- NASA Stardust scientists open the box transporting the canister of comet and space dust samples.
Stardust principal investigator Donald Brownlee flashes the victory sign as his colleagues admire the chock-full-of-comet aerogel dust collecting grid.
Tracks left by two comet particles after they impacted the Stardust spacecraft's comet dust collector. The collector segment is made up of a glass-like material called aerogel which is 99.9 percent air.
Closeup view of a particle impact (center) into the aerogel. Scientists have found evidence in these dust particles that question common knowledge about where comets come from.
A comet particle collected by the Stardust spacecraft. The particle is made up of the silicate mineral forsterite, also known here on earth in its gem-quality form as peridot, a precious stone. This particle is about 2 micrometers across.
A heart-shaped comet particle extracted from Stardust's aerogel collector.
An aerogel slice removed with an ultrasonic blade, showing comet particles and tracks.
An artist's rendering of the Stardust spacecraft. Stardust's main mission was to collect dust and carbon-based samples during its closest encounter with the comet Wild 2.
