Stardust Status Report

September 7, 2001

There were two Deep Space Network (DSN) tracking passes in the past week. All subsystems onboard the spacecraft are healthy.

Two Navigation Camera (NAVCAM) and four Star Camera images were taken. All images were excellent, showing no degradation in performance.

National Geographic interviewed the Stardust Project Manager, Tom Duxbury, for the Human Experience of Space program. The program will air on September 23.

The 1/4th and 1/10th scale spacecraft models have been sent to the model maker for repairs. The 1/10th scale model will then be sent to the Newark Science Center for use in a 2-year exhibit on NASA's exploration of Small Bodies.

STARDUST has begun planning an educator workshop training for October - November time frame in Maui and Hawaii. Training will be in partnership with the NEAR, Contour, CNSR and Deep Impact missions and sponsored by Litton, Inc. A total of 8 virtual trainings will be held during a two day period at the Maui High Tech. Center. Additional public lectures are being planned at the Bishop Museum, Onizuka Science Center, the University of Hawaii, the Hilo Astronomy Club and the Maui Community Center. Tours of the Keck Observatory are also being considered. This effort is expected to reach the students in 271 schools.

For more information on the Stardust mission - the first ever comet sample return mission - please visit the Stardust home page:

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov