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A capsule containing particles of comet dust rests on the snow-covered desert of western Utah in this artist's concept. The capsule, from the Stardust mission, parachuted safely to Earth in the wee hours of January 15. Stardust flew through the "coma" of gas and dust that surrounds Comet Wild-2 in January of 2004 and captured tiny particles in a special material. After the capsule landed, scientists transported it to the Johnson Space Center in Houston where they will examine its cargo inside an environment-controlled "clean room." [Credit: NASA/JPL]
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