Photos Of STARDUST At Kennedy Space Center

No copyright protection is asserted for this photography. If a recognizable person appears in this photograph, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity. It may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NASA employees of a commercial product, process or service, or used in any other manner that might mislead. Accordingly, it is requested that if this photograph is used in advertising and other commercial promotion, layout and copy be submitted to NASA prior to release. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration Clicking on any of the thumbnail images below will bring up a higher resolution version of that image. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, the Stardust spacecraft is prepared for its move to Launch Pad 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, for launch preparations. Stardust is targeted for liftoff on Feb. 6 aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket for a close encounter with the comet Wild 2 in January 2004. Using a silicon-based substance called aerogel, Stardust will capture comet particles flying off the nucleus of the comet. The spacecraft also will bring back samples of interstellar dust. These materials consist of ancient pre-solar interstellar grains and other remnants left over from the formation of the solar system. Scientists expect their analysis to provide important insights into the evolution of the sun and planets and possibly into the origin of life itself. The collected samples will return to Earth in a sample return capsule to be jettisoned as Stardust swings by Earth in January 2006.
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-120 High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, the Stardust spacecraft waits to be encased in a protective canister for its move to Launch Pad 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Station.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-121 High Resolution JPEG - 1.2 MB In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, a canister (left) is moved toward the Stardust spacecraft (right). The protective canister will enclose Stardust before the spacecraft is moved to Launch Pad 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Station.
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-122 High Resolution JPEG - 1.2 MB In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers guide a protective canister as it is lowered over the Stardust spacecraft. Once it is enclosed, Stardust will be moved to Launch Pad 17A.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-123 High Resolution JPEG - 1.5 MB In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers check the final adjustments on the protective canister enclosing the Stardust spacecraft.
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-124 High Resolution JPEG - 1.3 MB Completely enclosed in a protective canister, the spacecraft Stardust is moved by a crane toward a transporter in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. Stardust is being moved to Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, for launch preparations.