September 8, 2004

NASA Genesis Mission Returns Sample to Earth
What is the sun made of? Are the Earth and planets made of the same stuff? In 2001 NASA's Discovery mission Genesis launched its spacecraft a million miles sunward to collect pieces of the sun, called solar wind, that may contain these answers. In orbit, the spacecraft unfolded its collectors and began a two-year "sunbath." After its return to Earth scientists will study the solar wind samples for years to come. Making a dramatic entrance on September 8, 2004, the Genesis Sample Return Capsule (SRC) returns to Earth in an astonishing mid-air capture. Like an action-packed scene from a James Bond movie, the SRC recovery inspires the same edge-of-your-seat suspense. Professional stunt pilots flying helicopters with special retrieval equipment swoop in and swipe the solar wind samples Genesis has collected during its 2$B%9(B -year solar bath. For more information go to the NASA OSS Genesis Mission website.

September 8, 2004, USAF Utah Testing and Training Range, Utah
Contact: NASA OSS Genesis Mission website