Stardust Maneuvers Into Rendezvous Path With Earth
Ten days before its historic return to Earth with the first-ever 
samples from a comet, NASA's Stardust spacecraft successfully 
performed its 18th flight path adjustment.
Ten days before its historic return to Earth with the first-ever 
samples from a comet, NASA's Stardust spacecraft successfully 
performed its 18th flight path adjustment. This second-to-last 
scheduled maneuver puts the spacecraft on the right path to 
rendezvous with Earth on Jan. 15 (Universal Time), when it will 
release its sample return capsule.At 1800 Universal Time (10:00 am Pacific Time) on Thursday,  Jan. 5, 
Stardust fired all eight of its 4.4 newton (1-pound) thrusters for a 
total of 107 seconds, changing the comet sampler's speed by 2.4 meters 
per second (about 5.4 miles per hour). The maneuver required 385 grams 
(0.85 pounds) of hydrazine monopropellant to complete. A final trajectory 
correction maneuver is scheduled prior to release of the sample return capsule."It was a textbook maneuver," said Ed Hirst, Stardust deputy mission 
manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "After sifting 
through all the post-burn data, I expect we will find ourselves right on the money."In the early morning hours of January 15, 2006, the Stardust mission returns to 
Earth after a 4.63 billion kilometer (2.88 billion mile) round-trip journey 
carrying a precious cargo of cometary and interstellar dust particles. Scientists 
believe Stardust's cargo will help provide answers to fundamental questions 
about the origins of the solar system.Scientists believe in-depth terrestrial analysis of cometary samples will reveal 
much not just about comets but about the earliest history of the solar system. 
Locked within the cometary particles is unique chemical and physical information 
that could be the record of the formation of the planets and the materials from 
which they were made.Extensive information on the Stardust mission is available from the Stardust site 
atwww.nasa.gov/stardust.JPL manages the Stardust mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.  
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, developed and operates the spacecraft.  JPL 
is a division of the California Institute of Technology. NASA's Johnson Space Center 
contributed to Stardust payload development, and the Johnson Space Center will 
curate the sample and support analysis and sample allocation.For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/home.