Stardust Probe Re-Entry LIVE THREAD

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory ^ | 14 January 2006 | NASA JPL

[HolgerDansk]

The Stardust capsule will be visible from parts of Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho and Oregon when it returns on Jan 15 at 1:57 AM PST (09:57 UTC). Tips on how to observe this event are available.

[Dads Bag]

Right now the sky over Crescent City is scattered clouds. Radar looks like more of the same headed onshore.

I'll update if I see anything...and if the bear doesn't get me.

[ferri]

"What if it just comes back clogged with clothes-dryer lint and cat fur?"

man, if there is a pink sock there it is MINE!!!

[HolgerDansk]

...and if the bear doesn't get me.

Yeah, well, up there you can probably do a shoot, shovel and shutup, whereas here in the Bayarreah, we're expected to respect the bear's right to a nice warm meal...

[ferri]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stardust/main/index.html

there is a countdown clock running here too.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Exodus 32:13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

I hope it doesn't crash!

[HolgerDansk]

I hope it doesn't crash!

Last time they tried this, the parachute failed to deploy, and the return capsule smacked into the ground. Hopefully that was an isolated failure.

[HolgerDansk]

Okay, Mrs. Dansk and I are headed to the OP. Full report when we return...

[Drango]

Geek alert!

If I can thread poach a little... There is now a major project by FReepers and others regarding protein folding and distributed computing. The effort is dedicated to Ronald Reagan.

http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=36120

FReepers are ranked nationally (top 500) in our efforts to help this massive science project. Please join us if you would like to contribute and "Fold one for the Gipper". Here is one of several threads that can help point you to start donating your unused CPUs if you are interested.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1554097/posts

[B-Chan]

LOL I hope the boys over at WILDFIRE finally got that old teletype printer fixed...


...(and switched to silicone seals...)

[Neanderthal]

"Time to squeeze some Sterno into a shot glass."

LOL!

[cabojoe]

Coverage on NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
Directv channel 376

[Dan Cooper]

Saw it, it looked like a red dot moving fast across the sky, no trail behind it. Almost missed it because I was looking for a trail.

[bessay]

You guys haven't seen the movie "Andromeda Strain". If my blood turns to red sand after this thing reenters the atmosphere, my last thoughts will be of you guys.

[dread78645]

If my blood turns to red sand after this thing reenters the atmosphere, my last thoughts will be of you guys.

Drink lotsa alcohol; Sterno works well. (or so I'm told).

[Neanderthal]

"Saw it, it looked like a red dot moving fast across the sky, no trail behind it. Almost missed it because I was looking for a trail."

Saw nothing here. East Bay east of Caldecott.

[Costigan]

It will probably crash into the desert proving grounds like that probe that collected Solar Particles .

It fell from the sky like a large football because its' parachute failed to open and it smashed into the desert soil !

It was busted open and the contents were contaminated , the experiment was useless !

[GOPyouth]

1 1/2 minutes till land.

[saganite]

Socks the cat. Hmm, that would explain the cat fur.

[GOPyouth]

we have landing! Good job, NASA

[Dan Cooper]

It was pretty low on the horizon here in Grass Valley, CA