NASA's Stardust spacecraft performed its 18th and second-to-last flight maneuver on January 5th, perfecting its aim for Earth. On January 15, 2006, the spacecraft will release its sample return capsule, which will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. The capsule is carrying particles collected by Stardust as it passed through the tail of Comet Wild 2. NASA will then fly the capsule back to the Stardust Lab at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.