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...
exceeded grandest larger million particles
It exceeded all of our grandest expectations. We should have more than 1 million particles larger than 1 micron in diameter.
bit dozen hair human larger particles prediction size
The prediction was that we would get a dozen particles larger than human hair size and one particle a little bit larger than a millimeter.
brought direct mission particles planet relationship selves stressed
We have always stressed in this mission that we are stardust. Our planet and even our selves have a direct relationship to the particles we brought back.
comet expect fully older particles
We fully expect some of the comet particles to be older than the sun.
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.
billion desert formed great lake landed larger last million nearly particles salt seven solar space stardust system three traveling treasure
Last Sunday, after seven years in space traveling nearly three billion miles, Stardust landed in the Great Salt Lake Desert with a treasure from when the solar system formed 4.6 billion years ago. We should have more than one million particles larger than one micron in diameter.
confident particles primitive stuff
I'm confident that the particles will be the most primitive stuff we've ever had on Earth.
billion comet far library low picked records stored sun using
We?re using this comet as a library that picked up records and stored them far from the sun at very low temperatures for 4.5 billion years.
ended might standing
They always ended up with a rigid, crusty material. If you were standing on it you might go right through it.
contain discussion lots minerals whether
Scientifically, that's great, because there's been lots of discussion of whether comets contain minerals or glass.
absolutely bad either exceeded fully happened none point remarkable space successful totally wildest wrong
At this point in time, we're absolutely thrilled. It's totally remarkable to have a fully successful mission. Of all the things that could go wrong either in space or even scientifically, none of the bad things happened and everything really exceeded our wildest expectations.
huge lots small
It exceeds all expectations. It's a huge success. We can see lots of impacts. There are big ones, there are small ones.
huge
It exceeds all expectations. It's a huge success.
formed solar
We can tell the difference, absolutely, for something that formed in our own solar system, and something that formed around another star.