Stardust Status Report 22 Dec 2000

On Monday, December 18, the navigation camera charge-coupled device was
successfully powered off. The CCD steady state temperature was
approximately 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) and reached a peak of
77 degrees F (25 degrees C) during trajectory correction maneuver (TCM-4).
Planning and preparations for the Earth Gravity Assist on January 15th
continue to occupy the team’s time. Examination of the spacecraft actions
in the event of a safe mode entry has prompted a temporary change to the
safe mode response. Team members are developing commands to keep the
spacecraft pointed at the sun until the ground tells it to “phone
home”. This change will ensure that the spacecraft has sufficient power
even though the sun-spacecraft-Earth angle changes dramatically (up to 180
degrees) as the spacecraft approaches Earth.

For more information on the STARDUST mission – the first ever comet
sample return mission – please visit the STARDUST home page:

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov