Cosmic Dust Laboratory (CDL) supports the collection and curation of stratospheric particulate matter with the ultimate goal being the acquisition of extraterrestrial material samples. The particles are collected upon inertial impact surfaces suspended from the underside of the wings of NASA U-2, ER-2, and WB-5 aircraft during flight through the lower stratosphere. Particle collection is performed in the stratosphere to minimize contamination from the Earth's surface. The collected stratospheric particles are then carefully examined in the CDL with the use of high-resolution light optical microscopes. Following characterization, these particles are stored in dust-free, nitrogen-filled cabinets and made available to qualified outside investigators.

The small size of the particles examined in the CDL, typically only 5 to 50 µm in diameter, necessitates the use of a class 100 horizontal flow tunnel. This clean tunnel measures 10 by 21 feet. All laboratory personnel wear clean room overalls (often called "bunny suits"), and particle handling is facilitated by a special micromanipulator. Optical work and particle photography are performed with two special Wild microscopes and a Zeiss Aristophot photomicroscope.

Stratospheric Dust