Photos Of STARDUST At Cape Canaveral

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. -- The Stardust spacecraft, with the third stage of a Boeing Delta II rocket attached, arrives at Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The second and third stages of the rocket will be mated and prepared for liftoff on Feb. 6. Stardust is destined 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-126 High Resolution JPEG - 735K In the early morning, the Stardust spacecraft, with the third stage of a Boeing Delta II rocket attached, arrives atop a transporter at Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-127 High Resolution JPEG - 1.0 MB At Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, the Stardust spacecraft, attached to the third stage of a Boeing Delta II rocket, is lifted up the launch tower.
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-128 High Resolution JPEG - 1.0 MB Inside the launch tower at Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, workers guide the Stardust spacecraft toward an opening to the Boeing Delta II rocket below. The spacecraft is already connected to the third stage of the rocket that will be mated with the second stage in preparation for liftoff on Feb. 6.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-129 High Resolution JPEG - 1.0 MB Workers inside the launch tower at Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, guide the third stage of a Boeing Delta II rocket, and the Stardust spacecraft connected to it, through an opening to the second stage of the rocket below.
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-130 High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB Workers inside the launch tower at Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, watch as the third stage of a Boeing Delta II rocket is lowered for mating with the second stage below it. The Stardust spacecraft, above it out of sight, is connected to the rocket's third stage.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-131 High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB Workers at Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, connect the third stage of a Boeing Delta II rocket (above), which is already attached to the Stardust spacecraft, with the second stage (below).
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-133 High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB At Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, workers watch as the protective canister is lifted from the Stardust spacecraft.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-134 High Resolution JPEG - 1.2 MB The protective canister is removed from around the Stardust spacecraft at Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station.
STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-135 High Resolution JPEG - 901K Workers watch as the protective canister surrounding the Stardust spacecraft is removed at Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station.	STARDUST Spacecraft Photo Number: KSC-99PC-136 High Resolution JPEG - 1.2 MB At Launch Pad 17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, the Stardust spacecraft is revealed after removal of a protective canister.