NEAR gets Nearer to Eros

On Sunday, 30 April at 12:15 pm EDT, the NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft fired its engines once again, moving closer to asteroid 433 Eros in the process. The spacecraft has now moved from its previous 62 X 31-mile (100 X 50 kilometer) orbit around Eros to a 31-mile (50 kilometer) circular orbit that carries it over Eros’ north and south poles. NEAR will remain in this orbit for the next 2 months – an orbit that will allow it to make ever more detailed observations of Eros. During this period, NEAR’s X-Ray/Gamma-Ray Spectrometer will be used to measure elemental abundances, in an effort to understand the relationship(s) between meteorites and asteroids.

In August, NEAR will move into a high orbit that will measure 31 to 311 miles (50 to 500 kilometers). In December NEAR will be brough back within 21 miles (35 kilometers) of Eros for additional close range studies. The mission is scheduled to end on 14 February 2001 with the possibility of a landing (i.e. a slow motion crash) on Eros itself.

Related links and background information

° Focus On NEAR, SpaceRef
° Press release, Johns Hopkins University

° Summary of Orbits and Maneuvers at 433 Eros 2000 APR 02 – 30

In the week prior to NEAR’s orbit change, Johns Hopkins University also released movies of Eros rotating from 4 different perspectives.

° Eros March Movie Marathon, Part 1

° Eros March Movie Marathon, Part 2

° Eros March Movie Marathon, Part 3

° Eros March Movie Marathon, Part 4