A group of scientists who analyzed the samples returned to Earth in 2006 by NASA’s Stardust space probe may have found some particles of interstellar dust. The research, published in the journal “Science”, and other articles that will appear in the journal “Meteoritics & Planetary Science” concern the analyzes of the samples brought back by Stardust at the end of its primary mission, after the encounter with the comet Wild 2 during which it collected several grains of dust. The probe may have brought something more than expected.

The Stardust spacecraft was equipped with a kind of tray the size of a tennis racket to be used to collect samples of dust present in the comet Wild 2 coma. The grains were captured in 2004 thanks to the aerogel contained in the tray and can brought back to Earth in 2006 for in-depth analyzes. It was the first mission of this kind and the samples were subjected to long and very accurate analyzes.

The research was carried out also thanks to a group of volunteers who scanned over one million images. This type of examination can be comparable to finding a needle in a haystack and in this case it’s possible that they found seven really special needles.

On the side of the tray opposite to that used to capture the samples, two grains of dust were found that are very different from the others. A third track followed the direction of the wind during the flight, created by a particle that was so quick that it vaporized. The other four particles were found among the layers of aluminum of the tray.

The particles are microscopic and further analyzes will have to be carried out to determine with certainty or debunk their interstellar origin. Their chemical composition and their structure are varied so the particles may have different history.

Two of the particles will be subjected to an analysis that will determine the presence of oxygen isotopes. The results will help to figure out if those are really interstellar particles originated in some supernova occurred millions of years ago, where oxygen is one of the elements created.

The study of comets has become very important in recent years. A pioneering mission such as the one of the Stardust spacecraft, already considered a great success, could really have had extrarodinary results.

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