Genesis
NASA's Genesis Discovery mission collected solar-wind particles near Sun-Earth L1 and returned them to Earth for laboratory analysis. The capsule made an unplanned hard landing in Utah after its parachute failed, but substantial samples were recovered and produced major scientific results.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Genesis Solar Wind Sample Return Mission
- Name
- Genesis
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- NASA's Genesis Discovery mission collected solar-wind particles near Sun-Earth L1 and returned them to Earth for laboratory analysis. The capsule made an unplanned hard landing in Utah after its parachute failed, but substantial samples were recovered and produced major scientific results.
- Destination
- Halo orbit around the Sun–Earth L1 point, approximately 800,000 km in radius with a six-month period, for collecting solar-wind samples before returning the capsule to Earth
- End Date
- 2004-09-08
- Landing Facility
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Partial success. Genesis completed its solar-wind collection and returned the first material gathered beyond lunar orbit. A reversed deceleration-sensor installation prevented parachute deployment, and the capsule struck the Utah Test and Training Range at about 311 kilometres per hour, severely damaging and contaminating collectors; nevertheless, significant sample material was recovered and met major science objectives.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2001-08-08
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/genesis/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 16, 2026 at 23:53:28 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 22, 2026 at 15:10:08 UTC
- Image
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Other
- Affiliations
- Search Name
- Genesis Genesis Solar Wind Sample Return Mission
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles