document updated 18 years ago, on Jan 20, 2006
Various missions have used different methods for sending out a satellite, and then retrieving sample
material back from the mission.
- Long Duration Exposure Facility, 1984-1990, launched and released from the Space Shuttle's payload bay, and recaptured and returned to earth in a subsequent Shuttle mission (success)
- Genesis, 2001-2004, solar wind sample return via a 275kg capsule on a parachute, with an intended mid-air retrieval by helicopter (parachute failure caused the capsule to break open, contaminating some of the samples)
- Stardust, 1999-2006, comet sample returned via a 64kg capsule on a parachute (success)