Interesting experiment. I wonder if some manifestation of grav wave phenomenon could be involved in the recent confirmation of velocity anomalies in the Pioneer/Voyager probes? A longer harmonic of a fundamental grav wave frequency? I cannot think of one that fits the data...a slowdown apparently always vectored towards the Sun from different directions.

-p

Just think how fast our Milky Way is traveling. Add that up with all the explosions (gas, matter, radiation 'waves') from past Supernovae... Once out of the confines of our heliosphere shell a small craft is bound to encounter different currents we've yet to name or label.

In addition to 'gravity waves', the Stardust mission hopes to collect interstellar dust (hopefully they'll find a nice collection of the stuff riding on the tail of comet Wild 2).

[Additionally, the Stardust spacecraft will bring back samples of interstellar dust, including recently discovered dust streaming into our Solar System from the direction of Sagittarius. These materials are believed to consist of ancient pre-solar interstellar grains and nebular that include remnants from the formation of the Solar System. Analysis of such fascinating celestial specks is expected to yield important insights into the evolution of the Sun its planets and possibly even the origin of life itself.

In order to meet up with comet Wild 2, the spacecraft will make three loops around the Sun. On the second loop, its trajectory will intersect the comet. During the meeting, Stardust will perform a variety of tasks including reporting counts of comet particles encountered by the spacecraft with the Dust Flux Monitor, and real-time analyses of the compositions of these particles and volatiles taken by the Comet and Interstellar Dust Analyzer (CIDA). Using a substance called aerogel, Stardust will capture these samples and store them for safe keep on its long journey back to Earth. This silica-based, material has been inserted within the Aerogel Collector Grid, which is similar to a large tennis racket. Not until January 2006, will Stardust and its precise cargo return by parachuting a reentry capsule weighing approximately 125 pounds to the Earth's surface.]

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/

Marcia