A space capsule containing solar wind ions, due to be captured in mid-air by helicopter, crashed into the Utah desert without deploying either of its two parachutes at 1158 EDT (1658 BST) on Wednesday.
Ground crews are visually inspecting the capsule, which apparently still contains a live explosive device that was supposed to release the first drogue parachute.
Mission controllers say they will try to salvage any scientific data from the wrecked capsule, which broke open when it smashed sideways into the earth at an estimated 100 miles per hour (160 km per hour).
The Genesis spacecraft released the capsule above Earth's atmosphere on schedule at 0753 EDT (1053 BST). And mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, applauded when long-range cameras in Utah caught sight of the 190-kilogram capsule as it entered the atmosphere at 1154 EDT (1653 BST), travelling at an estimated 11 km per second.
But the cameras then showed the capsule tumbling wildly and at 1158 EDT, mission controllers announced, "negative drogue" and "look for impact". A few seconds later, the capsule hit the ground.
De capsule is 27 maanden onderweg geweest. Wetenschappers hoopten dat de miljarden ion-deeltjes geheimen zouden onthullen over de samenstelling van de wolk waaruit de zon en planeten 4,5 miljard jaar geleden zijn ontstaan. De missie startte in augustus 2001 en kostte 264 miljoen dollar.
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