Donald Brownlee
Donald Brownlee
Donald Eugene Brownleeis a professor of astronomy at the University of Washingtonand the principal investigator for NASA's Stardust mission. His primary research interests include astrobiology, comets, and cosmic dust. He was born in Las Vegas, Nevada...
backward chance low
What was the chance someone would put a g-switch in backward and not be discovered, ... It has got to be a low probability event.
samples universe
When you have the samples in hand, it's a whole different universe.
almost cut grain main particle worked
It's not much, but still it's so much that we're almost overwhelmed. The first grain we worked on, we haven't even cut into the main part of the particle yet.
ground ideas might people theories
For all the ideas and theories that people might have, we have some real ground truth.
comet edge samples solar
It's thrilling. We have samples of a comet from the edge of the solar system.
certain cold formed inside materials
It's certain such materials never formed inside this icy, cold body.
apart coming
It's coming apart under the heating of the sun.
billion cosmic edge formed solar system treasure
Its cargo was an ancient, cosmic treasure from the very edge of the solar system ? a treasure that formed when the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago.
edge exciting quite solar
It is quite exciting to find these things at the edge of the solar system.
billion blocks building earth examine fantastic farthest formed solar soon system traveled
We're approaching the end of a fantastic voyage. This is the farthest anything from Earth has traveled and come back. Soon we'll be able to examine the building blocks that formed the solar system 4.6 billion years ago.
ability quickly totally
We were totally overwhelmed by the ability to actually see this so quickly and so straightforwardly.
absolutely seeing variety
We're seeing a variety of things that we know absolutely come from a comet.
almost entire excellent left
We're in excellent shape. We've done almost everything we have to do in the entire mission...only thing left is to come into the Earth.
comet full opened yesterday
We opened the capsule yesterday and it's just full of comet dust.