Some of the powerful scientific instruments on Earth, used to study the cometary material, are more than 100 times larger and heavier than the spacecraft itself. Scientists hope to collect more than 100 particles from a newly discovered beam of particles streaming into our Solar System from other stars in outer space. By circling back to swing by Earth to get a gravitational slingshot out to the comet, Stardust uses a smaller rocket. This saves over 8 million dollars. The spacecraft will travel 2 billion miles to meet Comet Wild 2, and another 1 billion miles to get back home.
Comets have long amazed people.
Since ancient times, myths of their origins and their effect on Earth have made us curious about them. Stardust includes international participation. For example, a German instrument will analyze, as they are gathered, volatile ice grains and organic materials in comet particles. During the comet flyby, giant 20-story tall antennas on Earth, called the Deep Space Network, will receive transmissions of pictures and other scientific data. In terms of distance from the Sun, Stardust will travel well beyond Mars and over half the distance to Jupiter.