Cache Valley Residents Can Watch Genesis Reentry Live

As two Hollywood helicopter stunt pilots try to capture NASA’s Genesis spacecraft before it collides with the Earth in Utah, Cache Valley residents will be among those invited to watch the event live on Sept. 8, at 9:30 a.m., at the Space Dynamics Laboratory’s auditorium, sponsored by Next Audio Video.

 

In a dramatic mission ending that marks the beginning of scientific research, NASA's Genesis spacecraft is set to swing by Earth and jettison a sample return capsule filled with particles of the Sun that may ultimately tell us more about the genesis of our solar system.

 

"The Genesis mission — to capture a piece of the Sun and return it to Earth — is truly in the NASA spirit: a bold, inspiring mission that makes a fundamental contribution to scientific knowledge," said Steven Brody, NASA's program executive for the Genesis mission, NASA Headquarters, Washington.

 

The rendezvous will occur between 10:15 and 10:30 MST at the Air Force's Utah Test and Training Range, southwest of Salt Lake City. While the news media will be allowed onto the range to witness the event, the only way for the public to watch will be via NASA’s live television feed.

 

Genesis’ planned mid-air capture over western Utah represents the first time that extraterrestrial material will be brought back to Earth since Apollo 17 came home with moon rocks in 1972. The solar wind particles will be the first materials brought to Earth from beyond the moon.

 

The event is free to the public. Seating is limited and the doors open at 9 a.m. SDL’s auditorium is located in its Calibration and Optical Research Laboratory at 489 East Research Parkway (1650 North). If you have any questions please contact Trina Paskett at (435) 797-4678.