NASA's Stardust-NExT mission took this image of comet Tempel 1 at 4:36 AM UT today, from a distance of 2200km. The comet was previsously visited by the Deep Impact probe in 2005. Images are downloadet in the order they where taken. Closest approach images should be available tonight

Mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., have begun receiving the first of 72 anticipated images of comet Tempel 1 taken by NASA's Stardust spacecraft.
The first six, most distant approach images are available at http://www.nasa.gov/stardust Additional images, including those from closest approach, are being downlinked in chronological order and will be available later in the day.

A news conference previously planned for 6PM today (UT) will be held to allow scientists more time to analyze the data and images. A new time will be announced later this morning.

Stardust-NExT is a low-cost mission that expands on the investigation of comet Tempel 1 initiated by NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages Stardust-NExT for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. Joe Veverka of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., is the mission's principal investigator. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft and manages day-to-day mission operations.

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