http://stardustnext.jpl.nasa.gov/On January 15, 2006, the Stardust spacecraft completed one history-making mission and began another. Returning from a rendezvous with Comet Wild 2, the spacecraft approached Earth and jettisoned the capsule containing particles collected directly from the comet, as well as interstellar dust medium. The capsule landed safely and on-target southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah, completing the world's first sample return from a comet.
Now this spacecraft is on a new record-setting mission: a visit to Comet Tempel 1. Comet Tempel 1 was the comet previously targeted by the Deep Impact mission, making Stardust-NExT the first-ever follow-up mission to a comet.
As of about 10 p.m. PST , NASA's Stardust spacecraft has turned to point its high-gain antenna at Earth. It is expected to beam back the first images of Tempel 1 at around midnight PST (3 a.m. EST), Feb. 15. Check back for the first images.
stephen