Comet "Harpoon" Being Test Fired in NASA Lab

If launched, mission could return samples from deep inside icy bodies.

Comet Hartley 2, as seen by NASA's EPOXI mission.

Image courtesy UMD/Caltech/NASA

A sample collection chamber for the comet harpoon. Photograph courtesy Rob Andreoli, NASA.

Rachel Kaufman

for National Geographic News

Published December 15, 2011

An explosive-powered harpoon designed to skewer a comet would be the easiest way to grab a chunk of the icy body for study back on Earth, according to NASA researchers who are currently testing the device.
Since comets have very low gravity—maybe a millionth that of Earth's—landing a probe on one can be a challenge.

MORE: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/12/111215-nasa-comet-harpoon-sample-crossbow-space-science/

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