Stardust (spacecraft) - Mission Profile

Mission Profile

Timeline of travel
Date Event
1999-02-07 Spacecraft launched at 21:04:15 UTC
2000-05-01 Stardust Sample Collection test.
2000-11-14 Earth gravity assist maneuver
Time Event
2001-01-15
11:14:28 Closest approach to Earth at 6,000 km, flying by a point just southeast of the southern tip of Africa.
2001-02-14 Phase Stop
2002-04-18 New record in spaceflight set: furthest solar powered object at 2.72 AU.
2002-10-31 Flyby encounter with Annefrank
Time Event
2002-11-2
4:51:20 Closest approach to Annefrank at 3079 km.
2002-11-05 Phase Stop
2003-09-24 Flyby encounter with Wild 2
Time Event
2003-12-24
Stardust Sample Collector deployed
2004-01-02
13:49:00 "Encounter sequence" of onboard computer commands begins
14:19:00 Cometary and interstellar dust analyzer instrument configured.
17:19:00 Navigation camera takes approach image.
18:19:00 Navigation camera takes approach image.
19:04:00 Dust flux monitor instrument turned on.
19:12:00 Stops sending data, transmits carrier signal only.
19:13:00 Final roll maneuver to adjust encounter orientation.
19:21:28 Closest approach to Wild 2 at 240 km.
19:25:00 Navigation camera ends period of highest frequency imaging
19:25:00 Roll maneuver to take spacecraft out of encounter orientation
19:26:00 Resumes sending data instead of carrier signal
19:27:00 Navigation camera takes final picture
19:29:00 Navigation camera turned off
19:36:00 Begins transmitting images, dust flux monitor data
2004-01-03
13:19:00 Cometary and interstellar dust analyzer returned to cruise mode
13:19:00 "Encounter sequence" of computer commands ends
2004-02-21 Phase Stop
2005-10-17 Earth return of sample capsule.
Time Event
2006-01-15
09:57:00 Sample Return Capsule reentry.
2006-01-16 Phase Stop
2011-02-15 Flyby encounter with Tempel 1.
Time Event
2006-01-15
03:45:40 Turn to Encounter Attitude.
04:28:07 Start AUTONAV image capture.
04:53:07 Roll to image attitude.
04:54:08 First of 72 images captured.
04:58:08 Closest approach to Tempel 1 at 04:39:00 at a distance of 181 km (112 mi).
05:01:58 72 of 72 images captured.
05:55:46 Turn to Earth point.
06:05:55 Configure for high gain antenna / telemetry @ 15,800 bit/s.
07:52:22 Estimated start of image playback.
2006-02-16 Phase Stop
2011-03-24 End of mission.
Time Event
2011-03-24
23:00:00 Start of burn to consume remaining fuel.
23:33:00 Transmitter switched off.
2011-03-24 Phase Stop

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