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Which mission first returned samples from a comet?
Quick Answer
NASA’s Stardust mission was the first to bring comet material back to Earth, returning samples from Comet Wild 2 in 2006. Its sample capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere and landed in Utah.
The Full Story
Stardust became the first mission to return comet samples when its capsule landed in the Utah desert on 15 January 2006. The mission collected dust from Comet 81P/Wild 2 during a close flyby in 2004. Scientists later found microscopic grains that preserved information about the early Solar System. Stardust also helped improve understanding of how comets and planetary building blocks formed.
Key Facts
1.Sample return date: 15 January 2006
2.Target comet: 81P/Wild 2
3.Mission agency: NASA
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The first time comet dust came back to Earth."
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