NEAR Mission Status Report 04-21-2000

MISSION OPERATIONS:
 
NEAR Shoemaker continued to operate nominally this past week in orbit around the asteroid 433 Eros.  NEAR Shoemaker remained in Operational Mode with Flight Computer #1 and Attitude Interface Unit #2 in control of spacecraft attitude.  The spacecraft instrument suite remained "ON" and operational this week.
 
NEAR Shoemaker is presently in a nominal 100 km circular orbit around Eros. The spacecraft will remain in this orbit conducting Science observations until April 22, 2000 at 17:50 UTC when Orbit Correction Maneuver 5 (OCM 5) will initiate a 100 km x 50 km transfer orbit.  Final burn parameters have been delivered and will be uploaded to NEAR Shoemaker tomorrow (DOY 112).
 
NEAR Shoemaker will remain in the 100 km x 50 km transfer orbit conducting Science observations until April 30, 2000 at 16:55 UTC when Orbit Correction Maneuver 6 (OCM 6) will circularize the orbit at 50 km.  Based on the performance of OCM 5, the nominal burn time for OCM 6 will be refined.
 
Science activities conducted this week included Eros observations by the full instrument suite: MSI, NIS, MAG, NLR and XGRS.  Please consult science timelines for more details.
 
Upcoming Spacecraft Activities:
 
In addition to regular Eros Science and Optical Navigation, the following are operationally significant activities planned for the NEAR Shoemaker mission operation:
 
April 22        Eros Orbit Correction Maneuver 5 (100 km  x  50 km transfer orbit)
 
April 30        Eros Orbit Correction Maneuver 6 (50 km orbit
circularization)