Stardust mission data

The Stardust mission collected tiny particles dusted from the comet Wild 2 as it flew through the outer solar system. Using a specially designed collector, Stardust captured these particles in space and returned them to Earth for detailed analysis. This provided scientists with direct samples of comet material, helping to understand the early solar system's building blocks. The mission offered insights into the composition of comets, the origins of water and organic compounds on Earth, and the processes that shaped our solar system over 4.5 billion years.