Missions in Space - Genesis
Launch - 8 August 2001
Genesis was launched in 2001 with its primary mission to study the solar wind - an outflow of ions (charged particles) from the upper layers of the Sun. Astronomers believe that material from these layers is relatively unchanged from the gas cloud that became the Solar System.
Artist's impression of the Genesis spacecraft, showing its solar wind collectors
© NASA
Genesis spent a total of 884 days capturing material from and analysing the solar wind. It travelled a total distance of around 32 million km before returing to Earth. The probe became the first mission ever to return a sample of extraterrestrial material from beyond the Moon when it plummeted back to Earth with just 0.4 grams of material on 9 August 2004. The image below shows the return module (left) which fell to Earth and some of the material that was collected during the mission.
The Genesis return pod which crashed in August 2004, and some of the material it contained
© NASA
The returning capsule had intended to make a controlled descent to Earth but unfotunately its parachute failed to open and it ended up crashing into the desert below. Thankfully some of the collectors remained intact and the mission proved to be a partial success. The image above and right shows crushed material, which was used to capture solar wind material, ready for analysis.
.
