NASA Releases Genesis Accident Report

June 13, 2006

Erica Hupp/Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1237/1726

MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-097

NASA RELEASES GENESIS ACCIDENT REPORT

NASA has posted the Genesis Mission Mishap Investigation Board Report
on the agency's Web site.

The report details the findings of the 15-member board that
investigated why the drogue parachute and parafoil systems failed to
properly deploy and slow the Genesis Sample Return Capsule during
re-entry. With nothing to slow its descent, the capsule crashed into
the Utah desert landing zone on September 8, 2004.

The Genesis Mishap Investigation Board Report is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/genesis

Genesis was launched Aug. 8, 2001, from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Fla., on a mission to collect solar wind particles. Sample
collection began Dec. 5, 2001, and completed April 1, 2004. After an
extensive recovery effort following impact, the first scientific
samples from Genesis arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston,
Oct. 4, 2004.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home


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