Delta II Launches Stardust Spacecraft Feb. 7, 1999

Delta II — Stardust Mission Boeing Photo Negative #DAC 146982

Photo by Carleton Bailie
© The Boeing Company

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR STATION, Fla., 7 February, 1999 — A Boeing Delta II rocket lifts off the pad at 4:04 p.m. EST Feb. 7, 1999, carrying NASA’s STARDUST spacecraft on the first leg of a galactic search and recovery mission.

During its seven-year mission, the STARDUST spacecraft will collect interstellar dust and dust from the comet known as Wild 2, returning the samples to Earth in 2006. Additionally, photographs and dust analysis will be performed during the spacecraft fly-by of comet Wild 2.

It is the first NASA mission to collect extraterrestrial material from outside the orbit of the Moon.

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