Stardust-NEXT

NASA's Stardust-NEXT spacecraft is closing in on its encounter with a second comet. This time the comet will be Tempel 1, and the encounter will take place on February 14.

The encounter should be interesting. Tempel 1 has already had one visitor from Earth-- a particularly rude one. NASA's Deep Impact probe slammed into the comet a few years ago in an attempt to study the structure of the body. Unfortunately, debris from the impact obscured a view of the surface. Stardust-NEXT's primary objective will be to image the head of the comet to document any crater Deep Impact made. It's a rare and remarkable opportunity for follow up on a space mission.