The project completed a self-imposed, formal Risk Review on October 22. Standing Review Board Chairman Frank Carr used a subset of the board members to conduct this review. The Board examined the implementation processes, matching against the plan.

Cometary & Interstellar Dust Analyzer (CIDA) delivery date: Good News!! The ATLO (Assembly, Test & Launch Operations )team at Lockheed-Martin developed a work-around to allow schedule relief by implementing a structural end "frame" to keep one end of the spacecraft box open longer in the assembly flow. Thus, later access to the spacecraft interior makes a schedule matching possible for the CIDA electronics to be installed there.

Aerogel Production update: The Co-Investigator Team meeting last Friday validated the aerogel flight density profiles. Gun test reports by Johnson Space Center validated the collector thickness design and supported the validation for the flight-design density profiles.

The flight system assembly stand was moved into the Hi Bay Clean Room at Lockheed-Martin. The Launch Vehicle adapter face (with shields) and bottom of the flight spacecraft structure was also moved and mounted on the assembly stand as preparations begin for full system assembly.

A STARDUST briefing was provided to Kennedy Space Center Director Maj-Gen. Roy Bridges, USAF Ret., highlighting elements such as Earned Value-based Performance Management, electronic meeting room, etc.

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