Stardust returns with samples
15/01/2006 12:26  - (SA)  

Stardust set for return Stardust set for return Comet to bring rare samples Comet to bring rare samples

Washington - The US space probe "Stardust" returned to Earth on Sunday carrying precious samples of dust from stars and comets, which scientists believe could offer vital clues about the origins of our solar system, NASA television showed.

After a seven-year journey, a capsule weighing 46kg and carrying a teaspoonful of space dust landed in a Utah desert at 09:57 GMT after flying 4.63 bn km in space, or 10 000 times more than the distance separating Earth from the Moon.

The samples were collected during the first attempt to gather, beyond the Moon, space particles that date back to before our solar system was born, or about 4.5 billion years ago.

- AFP

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