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In 2006 the STARDUST mission will return the first samples of contemporary comet grains and possibly interstellar dust to Earth. The goal of the mission is to make the samples available internationally to the widest possible spectrum of qualified researchers.
Sample allocation will be made through the Cosmic Dust Subcommittee of CAPTEM, and it is anticipated that requests will be evaluated by CAPTEM in the same manner as current requests for interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), i.e. through small research proposals (2-5 pages).
Proposals will be judged not just on scientific merit but also on small particle handling expertise. For this reason, it is recommended that investigators first experiment with small matrix fragments of CI and CM meteorites and then request an IDP allocation. IDPs can be requested by contacting:
Dr Micheal Zolensky
Curator/Cosmic Dust
Code ST
Planetary Science Branch
NASA/Johnson Space Center
Houston,
Texas 77058
USA
All requests are evaluated on the basis of originality, quality of the proposed research, experience of the applicant(s), and the availability of appropriate facilities. The Cosmic Dust Subcommittee will provide guidelines in microparticle handling to successful applicant(s) if required.
A series of STARDUST workshops will be held prior to sample return. The first, a science meeting, will be held in August 2003. For details visit:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/stardust2003/
A second meeting planned for Summer 2004 will be a hands-on workshop where methods of extracting particles from aerogel, small particle handling techniques, and particle analysis methods will be covered. The workshop will be held in the San Francisco area. Interested participants should contact:
Dr John Bradley
Director
Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
7000 East Avenue
L-413
Livermore
CA 94550
jbradley@igpp.ucllnl.org
More info: CAPTEM Website
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