A reminder on tomorrow's date. NASA's Genesis mission returns with samples of Solar wind to earth. Its September 8, 2004, 9:55 am MDT when the capsule carrying the samples enter the earth's atmosphere. This is NASA's first sample return since the final Apollo lunar mission in 1972 which brought back samples from the Moon. Also, this is the first material collected beyond the moon.
Guys, the capture of the capsule once in earth's atmosphere is even more dramatic. Following the entry into the earth's atmosphere, the capsule deploys a parachute bearing the sample in a canister. Awaiting the capture of this canister will be two helicopters in the air, receiving updates from a ground-based controller. One of these helicopters will be the lead and the second, a backup.The lead helicopter will deploy an 18-1/2 foot pole with a hook at its end. Yes, the lead helicopter with a crew of three, is actually going to hook the canister and bring it safely to its clean room destination. For some reason, if the lead helicopter fails, the backup, waiting 1000 feet below shall attempt to take charge.
For more details on this, check out NASA's press kit for Genesis's sample return.
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