A SPACE capsule carrying the first comet dust samples to Earth parachuted to a pre-dawn landing in the Utah desert in the US yesterday, drawing cheers from elated scientists.

A space capsule ferrying the first comet dust samples to Earth parachuted on to a remote stretch of desert before dawn today, drawing cheers from elated scientists.

A Nasa spacecraft flew through the bright halo of a distant comet to scoop up less than a thimbleful dust that could shed light on how our solar system was formed.

A Nasa spacecraft flew through the bright halo of a distant comet today to scoop up less than a thimbleful of dust that could shed light on how our solar system was formed.