Is there another comet encounter in Stardust-NExTs future?
Not likely. The Stardust-NExT probe will burn up almost all of its remaining fuel chasing down Tempel 1, so this will almost certainly be its last comet encounter mission, researchers have said. The probe has been a model of reliability and longevity, lasting 12 years in space and putting about 3.7 billion miles (6 billion km) on its odometer. So if all goes well on Feb. 14, Stardust-NExT can drift off into the cold depths of space with its head held high. You can follow SPACE.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter: @michaeldwall.
