On December 29th, the Stardust spacecraft fired thrusters to trim its course for the first time, putting it closer on track to be the first probe ever to capture and return to Earth particles from a comet.

During the Trajectory Correction Maneuver, or TCM, the spacecraft rockets fired for about five minutes, changing its velocity by 36 feet per second as it heads toward an encounter with Comet Wild-2 in January 2004. During its 242 million mile journey, Stardust will make three loops around the Sun and one swingby the Earth, to gain momentum. During two of its Sun loops, it will collect interstellar dust. When it reaches the Wild-2, it will come within 93 miles of the comet, making history when it collects particles spewed out from a comet for the first time.

The cometary and interstellar dust particles will then be stored in a capsule which will separate from the main body of the spacecraft and reenter the Earth's atmosphere. The capsule will parachute to a gentle landing in a testing range in the Utah desert in 2006.

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