[meteorite-list] Stardust Update - January 31, 2006

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Jan 31 20:00:05 2006
Message-ID: <200602010058.k110wQW15436_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/status/060131.html

Stardust Status Report
January 31, 2006

Dr. Peter Tsou
Stardust Deputy Principal Investigator

January 29th marks the 2-week anniversary of the picture perfect landing
of the STARDUST Sample Return Capsule in Utah. The first of four cycles
of sample harvesting (removing aerogel cells from the comet Wild 2
flight tray) for our Preliminary Examination of returned samples reached
its peak last week. The pace of sample processing (removing and
preparing the particles from the aerogel cells) has ramped up
considerably. Six particles have been removed from the aerogel. Most of
these particles were 'potted' in epoxy and the epoxy was then sliced
into very thin wafers. Additionally, we've also separated particles
along with their tracks in small pieces of aerogel. Infrared
spectroscopy has been performed on the removed particles, and half of
one of the removed aerogel cell has been examined with a X-Ray beam from
a synchrotron. The soil samples taken from the Utah landing site of the
Sample Return Capsule are been examined for their chemical composition.
One piece of the removed aluminum foil will be examined under a Scanning
Electron Microscope to observe very small particle impacts. Some of the
sliced wafers are being readied for a Transmission Electron Microscope
to reveal the particle's mineralogy and petrology. As more of these
processed samples reach the hands of eagerly awaiting analysts around
the world, the pace of Wild 2 sample analyses - the central focus of
this Preliminary Examination - will accelerate along with the revelation
of breathtaking results. Stay tuned!
Received on Tue 31 Jan 2006 07:58:25 PM PST