Sun, Sep 19, 2004
But It's Looking Good...
Genesis team scientists and engineers continue their work on the
mission's sample return canister in a specially constructed clean
room at the US Army Proving Ground in Dugway (UT). As more of the
capsule's contents are revealed, the team's level of enthusiasm for
the amount of science obtainable continues to rise.
Right now, the science canister that holds the majority of the
mission's scientific samples is lying upside down - on its lid.
Scientists are very methodically working their way "up" from the
bottom portion of the canister by trimming away small portions of
the canister's wall. The team continues to extract, from the
interior of the science canister, small but potentially analyzable
fragments of collector array material. One-half of a sapphire wafer
was collected Tuesday - the biggest piece of collector array to
date.
The mission's main priority is to measure oxygen isotopes to
determine which of several theories is correct regarding the role
of oxygen in the formation of the solar system. Scientists hope to
determine this with isotopes collected in the four target segments
of the solar wind concentrator carried by the Genesis spacecraft.
The condition of these segments will be better known over the next
few days, after the canister's solar wind concentrator is
extricated. At this time, it is believed that three of these
segments are relatively intact and that the fourth may have
sustained one or more fractures.
There are no concrete plans regarding the shipping date of the
Genesis capsule or its contents from Dugway to the Johnson Space
Center in Houston. The team continues its meticulous work and
believes that a significant repository of solar wind materials may
have survived that will keep the science community busy for some
time.
The Genesis sample return capsule landed well within the
projected ellipse path in the Utah Test and Training Range on Sept.
8, but its parachutes did not open. It impacted the ground at
nearly 320 kilometers per hour (nearly 200 miles per hour).
More News
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
Also: 1800th E-Jet, Uncle Sam Sues For Landing Gear, Embraer Ag Plane, Textron Parts A friend of the family reported that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, M>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]