Pasadena, Calif. ? A NASA spacecraft flew through the bright halo of a distant comet Friday and scooped up less than a thimbleful of dust that could someday shed light on how our solar system was formed.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said its Stardust spacecraft passed within 149 miles of the comet Wild 2 as it plowed through the cloud that cloaks the dirty ball of ice and rock.

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The spacecraft recorded bursts of particles spewed by active jets on the surface of the comet. It also snagged dust specks for later study on Earth.

Mission members said the unmanned probe made its closest approach at 9:44 a.m. CST, while traveling at a relative speed of 13,650 mph.