NEAR Shoemaker Weekly Report 7 July 2000

MISSION OPERATIONS:
 
During this past week, NEAR Shoemaker remained in Operational Mode with Flight Computer #1 and Attitude Interface Unit #2 in control of spacecraft attitude.  Except for the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIS), the spacecraft instrument suite remained "ON" and operational this week.
 
NEAR Shoemaker entered a 50 km circular orbit April 30, 2000 at 16:15 UTC when Orbit Correction Maneuver 6 (OCM 6) was executed and has remained in that orbit since.  Orbit Correction Maneuver 7 (OCM 7) was successfully executed today, July 7, at 18:00 UTC.  This maneuver lowered the periapse to 35 km, forming a 35 km x 50 km transfer orbit.  According to the current long-term trajectory plan, NEAR Shoemaker will remain in this orbit conducting Science observations until July 14, when Orbit Correction Maneuver (OCM 8) will circularize the orbit at 35 km.  During the 35 km orbit, after recovering opnav data associated with OCM 8, four days will be spent sun pointing to refine the gravitational field model, and the remaining duration will be allocated to XGRS for prime science data collection.
 
Except for the NIS, science activities conducted this week included Eros observations by the full instrument suite: MSI, MAG, XGRS and NLR.  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:
 
July 14  Eros Orbit Correction Maneuver 8  (35 km orbit
                        circularization)
July 24  Eros Orbit Correction Maneuver 9  (35 km  x  50 km transfer                         orbit)
July 31  Eros Orbit Correction Maneuver 10  (50 km orbit
                        circularization)