Genesis (Discovery 5)

Genesis is a mission to bring samples of the solar wind to earth. For this purpose, the probe was inserted into an halo orbit around the Earth-Sun L-1 point, where it collects the samples during 30 months. It features a return capsule, from which 3 collector arrays consisting of specially designed high purity wafers are deployed. For analyzing lighter ions, an electro static concentrator is also mounted inside the capsule. Furthermore the bus carries 2 solar wind monitors.

At the end of the mission, Genesis is leaving the L-1 point and will return to earth. On 8. September 2004 the capsule reentered the earth atmosphere to be captured in mid air by an helicopter over the desert of Utah. Unfortunately, neither the drogue chute nor the parafoil deployed and the capsule crashed in the Utah desert. The capsule broke open on impact, so contamination of the samples is likely. The project scientists are hopeful, that some of the collectors remained usable.

Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs