Abstract: NASA’s Stardust mission flew through the coma of comet Wild 2 in January 2004, capturing
dust grains as it did so. The grains were returned safely to Earth in January 2006, and are in the process
of being distributed to investigators. As members of the Spectroscopy Preliminary Examination Team,
we are preparing to analyse Stardust grains. Our contribution is to measure the spectrum of the grains
between 200 nm (in the near ultraviolet) and 800 nm (near infrared). The purpose of the measurement is
to provide an additional technique for characterizing the grains, one that is complementary to other
spectroscopic techniques and one that produces results that can be matched directly with spectra
acquired remotely (with telescope or spacecraft instrumentation). As part of the preparation for analysis
of Stardust materials, we are producing a database of spectra from appropriate minerals, and are
honing the technique through analysis of primitive meteorites.
R