Just in time for the fireworks, here is a simple cylindrical projection mosaic of two of the Stardust images of the comet nucleus. The map extends from the north pole (top) to the south pole (bottom) and the ends and centre are on the long axis. The reprojection is done using a simple ellipsoidal shape model. The viewing directions for the two images were too different for them to fit together perfectly, so I will look at an intermediate image to fix some problems at the join.

Phil

Click to view attachment

Note added on Jan 14: north and south should be reversed! - rotate this image 180 degrees. The illuminated hemisphere is the northern one, not the southern. This now matches the current IAU definition of north. My original comment about north used the older IAU definition. Sorry! Phil

Phil:

The two words which spring unbidden to my mind are 'polygon' and 'grid'. These may, of course, be merely artefacts of Bruce's ablative landforms...

Bob Shaw

Those at the US Westcoast might be able to see the re-entry
Wish I was there !!!

http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/viewingarea.jpg

Yes my previous discussion begins here:

The weather has been "iffy". It was supposed to rain like hell today and then clear tomorrow, so my plan is to head up to Redding (2 1/2 hours) from Southern Sacramento County, with hopes of clearing by 2:00 am.

As of this morning the storm appears to be a big fizzle. My fall back plan if it's going to be cloudy in Redding, CA is to drive to Reno, NV (also 2 1/2 hours). In the event of the latter I'll have to deal with fresh snow and more attentive driving going over I-80 through the mountains, in which case I'll leave early and kill time in a casino.

If I capture anything I'll post it here this time Sunday. I'll be taking digital movies, digital stills, film stills, and analog video. Hopefully something will look good.

**EDIT**

It looks like it will be Redding:
Tonight: Rain showers ending this evening with mostly clear conditions overnight. Low 32F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Even if you are not close enough to the reentry to SEE it, if you are anywhere on the western half of the US you should still be able to HEAR it. The ionized hot plasma created by stardust's friction with the atmosphere should reflect radio waves from stations over the horizon just like meteor trails do. If you turn to a quiet (no signal) station on the low end of the FM dial (not AM 'cause that's too low in frequency and naturally bounces off the ionosphere anyway, giving over the horizon reception normally) you should be able to hear pings that fade over a few seconds (meteoroids) or for the case of stardust I would imagine, a several minute long whistle or loud high pitched hum AT THE RIGHT TIME. Even if you aren't in western US you can still listen via several online streaming audio stations that are specifically set up to do so. Usually the stations are totally dead with no one else listening (not many people are keen on listening to nothing but static and ping noises for hours on end) but I don't want to give links here for fear of making them too popular (I want to listen too!) They are easy to find though if you really want to listen.

I visited Aspen Aerogels' Northborough Massachusetts facility on Friday and came away with some sample material. (thanks Elaine) I also got to see and handle some monolithic aerogel like that on Stardust, AMAZING.

Aerogel has a number of industrial applications as insulation and available to consumers as insulating insoles to keep your feet warm (REALLY WARM).

Thinking of this stuff on MER, Stardust, and my feet at the same time while watching the re-entry on UMSF warms my heart.

So is any TV station going to air the movie "The Andromeda Strain" on Sunday?

Hopefully, Stardust doesn't land off target and the local doctor opens the capsule!

ELkGroveDan should pack some Sterno just to be safe.
Good luck, Dan, and be careful driving back in that weather.

The map of Wild-2 in a recent post should be rotated 180 degrees (I'll add an edit to that effect) - after checking I found that I had flipped my north and south. Note that this is not caused by the mirror in the imaging system - the map is constructed from images which were already flipped to accomodate that.

Sorry!

Phil

And aspirin!

Oh, and turn OFF that answering machine!

Bob Shaw

Stardust Return Capsule Milestones ** Listed in Eastern Time

Capsule Milestones | Mission Overview
Date/Time (all times are approximate) Event
Jan. 15, 12:57 a.m. Stardust spacecraft releases return capsule on a path towards Earth.
1:18 a.m. Stardust spacecraft fires thrusters to put in into orbit around sun.
4:57 a.m. Return capsule enters Earth atmosphere.
5 a.m. Return capsule's first parachute, or drogue, deploys.
5:05 a.m. Capsule's main parachute deploys.
5:12 a.m. Return capsule lands inside U.S. Air Force's Utah Test and Training Range.
approximately 5:22 a.m. Helicopter and crew land near return capsule.
approximately 7:20 a.m. Return capsule arrives by helicopter to temporary cleanroom at Michael Army Air Field

Rodolfo

Can this been seen live somewhere? Webcast maybe?

Nasa TV will be covering it from 4:30 am EST.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Nasa TV on NOW for stardust sampler/lander separation! 12:50am EST


edit 12:50_a_m

note - Nasa TV returned to _regular_ programming @ 1:06am EST

Applause! 12:56 event successful.

All time in UTC:

05:57:06 - separation of the capsule, range: 110608 km, range-rate=6.713 km/s, v=6.726 km/s
06:22:33 - 100 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=6.968 km/s, v=7.016 km/s
06:46:23 - 90 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.020 km/s, v=7.079 km/s
07:10:01 - 80 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.083 km/s, v=7.157 km/s
07:33:26 - 70 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.160 km/s, v=7.256 km/s
07:56:34 - 60 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.257 km/s, v=7.386 km/s
08:19:21 - 50 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.382 km/s, v=7.563 km/s
08:41:41 - 40 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.546 km/s, v=7.822 km/s
09:03:28 - 30 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.765 km/s, v=8.236 km/s
09:24:36 - 20 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=8.009 km/s, v=9.007 km/s
09:45:41 - 10 thousand kilometers away from Earth center, rr=7.287 km/s, v=11.000 km/s
09:47:09 - altitude=3000 km (range - 6378.140 km), rr=7.002 km/s, v=11.240 km/s
09:49:39 - altitude=2000 km, rr=6.293 km/s, v=11.684 km/s
09:52:35 - altitude=1000 km, rr=4.946 km/s, v=12.223 km/s
09:52:56 - altitude=900 km, rr=4.739 km/s, v=12.285 km/s
09:53:17 - altitude=800 km, rr=4.520 km/s, v=12.345 km/s
09:53:40 - altitude=700 km, rr=4.269 km/s, v=12.410 km/s
09:54:04 - altitude=600 km, rr=3.992 km/s, v=12.474 km/s
09:54:30 - altitude=500 km, rr=3.676 km/s, v=12.540 km/s
09:54:59 - altitude=400 km, rr=3.304 km/s, v=12.609 km/s
09:55:31 - altitude=300 km, rr=2.870 km/s, v=12.678 km/s
09:56:10 - altitude=200 km, rr=2.312 km/s, v=12.750 km/s
09:56:42 - altitude=125 km (Geodetic alt=134 km), rr=1.825 km/s, v=12.799 km/s, a=+1.34 m/s^2, nw California, reentry begins
09:57:03 - alt=100 km, rr=1.516 km/s, v=12.5 km/s, a=+0.54 m/s^2, ne California
09:57:43 - alt=55 km, maximum deceleration at 30.5g
09:57:51 - alt=50 km, rr=477 m/s, v=6.0 km/s, a=-272 m/s^2, Nevada
09:58:23 - alt=40 km, rr=247 m/s, v=1.5 km/s, a=-59 m/s^2, Nevada
09:58:56 - alt=32 km, rr=234 m/s, v=0.6 km/s, a=-15 m/s^2, Utah, drogue deployment
10:00:01 - alt=20 km, rr=127 m/s, a=-0.96 m/s^2, Utah
10:02:05 - alt=10 km, rr=56 m/s, a=-0.034 m/s^2, Utah
10:03:49 - alt=5 km, rr=42 m/s, a=-0.014 m/s^2, Utah
10:04:43 - alt=3 km, Utah, main parachute deployment
10:12:00 - alt=0 km, rg=6369 km, rr=0 km/s, v=0.35 km/s, a= 0.00 m/s^2, Utah, 40.3 N, 113.7 W, capsule landed

hi yaohua from wiki !

The weather does not look good for direct observation - Most of Eastern Nevada and western Utah are under a pretty good cloud cover

Most all of northern california is clear skies at least. I'm heading off to catch some pictures, good luck to Stardust and anyone else hoping for clear skies.

From NASA TV: Helicopters launched, weather "variable" @ 2:35AM MST.

I have NASA TV, Spaceflightnow mission status center & Stardust homepage on my screen. Any other web page I should open? Coffee at hand - I'm "go" for this event.

West Coast infrared image @ 0900 UTC 16 Jan shows northeast of SF Bay area looks favorable for viewing. Cloud cover in N Cal, north half of Nevada, patchy in N Utah.

Link: http://www.weatherimages.org/data/imag308.html


(Edit: Posted spacecraft entry, got spoofed by a test vid....my bad!)

NASA TV reports skies at landing area clear, helicopters at staging area.


GOOD LUCK, STARDUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Likewise. The couch Thunderbirds are go.

Hope the on track re-entry sighting field team (ElkGroveDan) isn't too cold hour there.

Re-entry in 7 minutes ...

Just ate my peanuts...

Cat on Lap, NASA TV on Sky News active, Cup of Tea

Doug is go for landing


Doug

USSTRATCOM tracking reports stable pre-entry config; no anomalies in brightness due to rotation of SRC.

Just looking at the radar track, damn that thing is fast.

Yes, it's unreal...already over central NV, IR image acquired!!!! Hope ElkGrove's seein' it!

THE DROGUE OPENED!!!!!!!

Drogue deployed

Just saw it! From my back deck, which faces north over the San Francisco skyline, it was a bright object (maybe mag. 0?) that appeared due north, a little lower than I had expected, and was moving VERY fast to the east. I've spotted many satellites, but this thing was streaking. I lost it in the lights over Oakland (and through the boughs of a eucalyptus tree).

It'll be in Utah VERY shortly.

...that may have been premature.....

Possible negative drogue deployment.

no change in velocity?!? not good I don't think if the drogue is supposed to be deployed!

Not good...keep crossed fingers, appears to be decelerating.

32000 feet, 1100 dps, no indication of slowing due to drogue.
Deceleration noticed finally at 26000

Deceleration!!!!!! 500fpm, GOOD CHUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Northerly drift detected - possible indication of drogue effect.

Main chute deployed..deceletating as predicted. Good chute

Flood control is a pain Doug

After the peanuts I was about to start at my nails, but main chute confirmed open!

CONFIRMED MAIN CHUTE DEPLOYMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

phew that was nail biting.

Flood control is there for a reason

This isnt a chat room (I was in #space for it ) You could always just edit your post instead.

That was nerver wracking indeed - nothing drogue related until quite late.

Doug

Roger that....I was nibbling on my ELBOWS!!!!


Apologies, Doug, for the flood....I'll be good from now on!

6000 ft, drifting gently down. Chute and SRC visible on the IR tracking. Sweet. Landing in 1.5 minutes.

Awesome....It's DOWN!!!!

I could actually see the main chute gently collapse on the IR img after landing...nice!

Touchdown confirmed.



Pitchforks away - Lo-Mart live another day.


Doug

Touchdown! Congratulations to the whole Stardust team!

Eric P / MizarKey

Landing!

The NASA commentary is emphasizing how difficult finding the capsule is...I find that odd, considering that the landing was pretty clearly captured on IR... ...they should have a really good position fix!


...Okay, they just mentioned that the SRC is white on a white surface. Was there any reason not to paint it international orange, like aircraft "black" box recorders, before launch???