The Salt Lake Tribune — Stunt pilots prepare to catch space probe

DUGWAY PROVING GROUND — Hollywood stunt pilots spent Thursday hovering over the west desert in helicopters to practice for their $200 million catch later this year.

The main event takes place Sept. 8, when the NASA Genesis probe drops a capsule carrying solar wind particles over the Utah Test and Training Range. The tiny payload — the weight of a few salt grains — could help scientists determine our solar system’s origin.

NASA is using stunt pilots? Wow…And Genesis was the first mission that I worked on at JPL to launch. I have an emotional connection. 🙂