NASA probe returns first comet samples to Earth in 2004

In 2004, NASA's Stardust probe captured particles from the tail of Comet Wild 2 using a collector filled with aerogel. After traveling 4.6 billion kilometers, the sample return capsule parachuted down to the Utah desert in January 2006, delivering the first solid pieces of a comet ever brought back to Earth. Scientists and space agencies worldwide are now analyzing these microscopic grains, which are expected to reveal clues about the early solar system and the origins of organic compounds. The mission, which cost about $300 million, also collected interstellar dust. Researchers are currently studying the samples to understand comet composition and formation processes.