We weren't quite sure how bright it was going to be and some people didn't think we would see anything. |
We'll be able to say some things almost instantly. One of the big questions is do comets contain minerals that contain water, called hydrated silicates and under an electron microscope you can identify those practically instantly. |
We're collecting things that are very ancient and even older than our solar system. We are literally reaching for the stars. |
We're confident that the things coming out [of Comet Wild 2] are the same as those that went in. We believe that we collected the most pristine samples of a comet, those that have never been warmed. |
We're just starting to work on this ... it will take years to analyze. |
We've undergone a very heavy level of scrutiny by review boards because of Genesis and because of the Columbia accident. . . . It was a cultural shift in NASA, that you're now required to understand all the risks. |
Well, we'll see. But we do have some interesting stuff. |
What we want to know is how organic molecules actually form in comets and whether they helped deliver organic material to the Earth before life began. |
When you have the samples in hand, it's a whole different universe. |
Wow! That was just spectacular. |
You can't see them with the unaided eye (but) with the aided eye (through a microscope) you can see everything. A little particle blown up to high magnification is like working on an entire state! It's amazing. |
You're seeing the very first, absolutely identified comet particle that has ever been seen. |