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Stardust interstellar preliminary examination
(ISPE).
Westphal A. J., Allen C., Bajt S., Basset R.,
Bastien R., Bechtel H., Bleuet P., Borg J., Brenker F., Bridges J.,
Brownlee D. E., Burchell M., Burghammer M., Butterworth A. L., Cloetens
P., Cody G., Ferroir T., Floss C., Flynn G. J., Frank D., Gainsforth
Z., Grün E., Hoppe P., Kearsley A., Lemelle L., Leroux H.,
Lettieri R., Marchant W., Mendez B., Nittler L. R., Ogliore R.,
Postberg F., Sandford S. A., Schmitz S., Silversmit G., Simionovici A.,
Srama R., Stadermann F. J., Stephan T., Stroud R. M., Susini J., Sutton
S., Trieloff M., Tsou P., Tsuchiyama A., Tyliczszak T., Vekemans B.,
Vincze L., Warren J., Zolensky M. E., and >26,000 Stardust@home
dusters (2009)
Lunar & Planet. Sci. 40, Abstract #1786.
ABSTRACT
In January 2006 the Stardust sample return capsule returned to
Earth bearing the first solid samples from a primitive solar system
body, Comet 81P/Wild2, and a collector dedicated to the capture and
return of contemporary interstellar dust. Both collectors were 0.1 m2
in area and were composed of aerogel tiles (85% of the collecting area)
and aluminum foils. The Stardust Interstellar Dust Collector (SIDC) was
exposed to the interstellar dust stream for a total exposure factor of
20 m2 day during two periods before the cometary encounter.
The Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination (ISPE) is a threeyear
effort to characterize the collection using nondestructive techniques.
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