This September a Hollywood-style capture will highlight NASA's Genesis mission when it comes to an exciting climax. Genesis is a mission to study the birth of our solar system by examining the composition of the Sun. The spacecraft was launched in August, 2001 from Cape Canavaral Air Force Station in Florida. Genesis attained perfect orbit and spread its hexagon-shaped collector arrays to harvest the Sun’s solar wind. The arrays made of gold, platinum and diamonds sparkled brilliantly while absorbing the Sun's essence. On September 8th, the sample return capsule or SRC will return to Earth.On the desert floor at the Utah Test and Training Range a tile marks the spot over which the capture of the SRC will occur. Genesis will be instructed to eject the capsule and it will enter Earth’s atmosphere suspended under a parachute to slow its descent. In a James Bond-type stunt maneuver using giant hooks, trained pilots in helicopters will swoop down and snag the capsule in mid-air. The precious cargo will then be gently lowered to the ground where the Genesis team anxiously awaits its arrival.The samples will be stored in cleanroom conditions and made available to the world's scientific community for study for many years to come. You can be a part of this historic event. See the mid-air capture as it happens live on NASA TV September 8th. Coverage begins at 11:30a.m., eastern daylight time.
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NASA ID
ksc_081904_genesis_returns
Date Created
August 20, 2004
Center
KSC
Media Type
video
Photographer
NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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