Stardust Status Report September 7, 200
There were two Deep Space Network (DSN) tracking passes in the
past week. All subsystems onboard the spacecraft are healthy.
Two Navigation Camera (NAVCAM) and four Star Camera images were taken.
All images were excellent, showing no degradation in performance.
National Geographic interviewed the Stardust Project Manager, Tom
Duxbury, for the Human Experience of Space program. The program
will air on September 23.
The 1/4th and 1/10th scale spacecraft models have been sent to the
model maker for repairs. The 1/10th scale model will then be sent to
the Newark Science Center for use in a 2-year exhibit on NASA’s
exploration of Small Bodies.
STARDUST has begun planning an educator workshop training for October
– November time frame in Maui and Hawaii. Training will be in
partnership with the NEAR, Contour, CNSR and Deep Impact missions and
sponsored by Litton, Inc. A total of 8 virtual trainings will be
held during a two day period at the Maui High Tech. Center.
Additional public lectures are being planned at the Bishop Museum,
Onizuka Science Center, the University of Hawaii, the Hilo Astronomy
Club and the Maui Community Center. Tours of the Keck Observatory
are also being considered. This effort is expected to reach the
students in 271 schools.
For more information on the Stardust mission — the first ever
comet sample return mission — please visit the Stardust home page:
