STARDUST-NExT Archives - Universe Today

The Next Generation of Exploration: The DAVINCI Spacecraft

5 Oct , 2015 by Matt Williams

It’s no secret that there has been a resurgence in interest in space exploration in recent years. Much of the credit for this goes to NASA’s ongoing exploration efforts on Mars, which in the past few years have revealed things like organic molecules on the surface, evidence of flowing water, and that the planet once […]

2011: Top Stories from the Best Year Ever for NASA Planetary Science!

31 Dec , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] A year ago, 2011 was proclaimed as the “Year of the Solar System” by NASA’s Planetary Science division. And what a year of excitement it was indeed for the planetary science community, amateur astronomers and the general public alike ! NASA successfully delivered astounding results on all fronts – On the Story of How […]

Stardust-NExT sees Jets and impact crater at Comet Tempel 1 and says Farewell !

24 Mar , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption]Farewell Stardust-NExT ! Today marks the end to the final chapter in the illustrious saga of NASA’s Stardust-NExT spacecraft, a groundbreaking mission of cometary exploration. Mission controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory commanded the probe to fire the main engines for the very last time today at about 7 p.m. EDT (March 24). The burn […]

Sounds of Comet Tempel 1 smashing into Stardust-NExT

23 Feb , 2011 by Ken Kremer

As Stardust-Next was racing past Comet Tempel at 9.8 km/sec, or 24,000 MPH, it encountered a hail of bullet like particles akin to a warplane meeting the fury of armed resistance fighters which potentially could have utterly destroyed the probe. NASA has released a cool sound track of the sounds of thousands of cometary dust […]

Movies of Comet Tempel 1 Encounter by Stardust-NExT

21 Feb , 2011 by Ken Kremer

Want to know what it feels like at close range to ride on a spaceship past a zooming comet that’s spewing dust and debris that could destroy you at any moment ? Check out the movies (above & below) which gives you a front row seat at NASA’s newest ‘Comet Experience’. Hitch a ride on […]

NASA’s Stardust Discovers Human made Deep Impact Crater on Comet Tempel 1

16 Feb , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] NASA’s aging and amazing Stardust space probe has at last discovered the human made crater created on Comet Tempel 1 in 2005 by the history making cosmic smash up with NASA’s Deep Impact penetrator. Stardust streaked past the comet on Feb. 14 at 10.9 km/sec, or 24,000 MPH, and succeeded in briefly photographing the […]

Stardust-NExT Unveils Astoundingly Detailed and Crater-rich Photos of Comet Tempel 1

15 Feb , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] NASA’s Stardust-NExT raced past Comet Tempel 1 overnight Feb 14/15 at over 10 km/sec or 24,000 MPH and is now sending back the 72 astoundingly detailed and crisp science images of Comet Tempel 1 taken during closest approach at 11:37 p.m. EST on Feb. 14. The high resolution images are amazingly sharp and clearly […]

Stardust-NExT zooms by Comet Tempel 1 for Cosmic Encounter

15 Feb , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] NASA’s Stardust-NExT comet chaser successfully zoomed by Comet Temple 1 exactly as planned a short while ago at 11:37 p.m. EST on Feb. 14. The cosmic Valentine’s Day encounter between the icy comet and the aging probe went off without a hitch. Stardust snapped 72 science images as it raced by at over 10 […]

Romantic Valentines Day Encounter Looms with Icy Comet

13 Feb , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] At last, NASA embraces a romantic rendezvous in the dark void of deep space. And soon the whole world can watch the up close meet up of the hot Stardust probe and the volatile, icy comet. The historic space tryst is less than a day away! The Stardust-NExT spacecraft successfully hot fired its thrusters […]

Stardust NExT Targets Valentines Day Encounter with Comet Tempel 1

19 Jan , 2011 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] After a more than decade long journey of 6 billion kilometers, hopes are high for a celestial date in space between an icy comet and a thrusting probe on Valentine’s Day 2011. The rendezvous in space between NASA’s approaching Stardust-NExT spacecraft and Comet Tempel 1 takes place nearly on the exact opposite side of […]

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