Stardust parachutes to soft landing in Utah

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Donald Brownlee stands by the clean room where the Stardust sample return capsule is being prepared to ship comet samples to Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credit University of WashingtonVince Stricherz
Donald Brownlee stands by the clean room where the Stardust sample return capsule is being prepared to ship comet samples to Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credit University of Washington/Vince Stricherz

Nearly seven years after setting off in pursuit of comet Wild 2, the Stardust return capsule streaked across the night sky of the Western United States early Sunday, making a soft parachute landing in the Utah desert southwest of Salt Lake City.


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