The Large Area Collector cosmic dust sensor was mounted under the wing of NASA's ER-2 high-altitude aircraft as it awaited a cosmic dust collection mission. When the aircraft reaches 65,000 feet, the clam shell-like doors open to reveal pads covered with sticky oil that traps microscopic cosmic material. Collected samples provide valuable information about the origin and the history of the solar system. Read the mission report at <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/ER-2_cosmic_dust.html">https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/ER-2_cosmic_dust.html</a>.
NASA/Tom Tschida
Taken on 24 April 2009
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