NEAR Shoemaker Enters Asteroid Orbit

February 14th, 2000

February 14th, 2000

NEAR Shoemaker Enters Asteroid Orbit
How Long Ago?

25 years, 1 month, 1 day ago

Location

Asteroid 433 Eros, solar system

Category

Space Exploration

People
  • Andrew Cheng
  • Robert W. Peterson
  • Karl P. Battams
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NEAR Shoemaker Enters Asteroid Orbit

The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft successfully entered orbit around asteroid 433 Eros, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Launched by NASA in February 1996, NEAR Shoemaker's mission was to study this near-Earth asteroid. After a careful maneuvering process, the spacecraft achieved orbit on February 14, 2000, and began sending back valuable data about Eros’s surface, shape, and composition. This achievement showcased advancements in satellite technology and provided insights into the early solar system.

First spacecraft to orbit an asteroid

Launched in February 1996 by NASA

Collected data on asteroid's surface and composition

Contributed to understanding of solar system formation

What Happened?

The NEAR Shoemaker (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) spacecraft, launched by NASA on February 17, 1996, embarked on a journey of exploration to study 433 Eros, a near-Earth asteroid. Designed to gather data about asteroids and their potential resources, NEAR Shoemaker completed several flybys of Earth and the asteroid 253 Mathilde before reaching its final destination. On February 14, 2000, the spacecraft successfully entered orbit around Eros, making it the first spacecraft ever to achieve this feat. The orbital insertion required a carefully calculated thrust maneuver that allowed the spacecraft to be captured by the asteroid's gravity.

Once in orbit, NEAR Shoemaker began a year-long survey of Eros, providing unprecedented insights into its surface characteristics, geology, and composition. The data collected by the onboard instruments revealed Eros to be a lumpy, irregularly shaped body with varying terrain, including craters and smooth plains. As the mission progressed, NEAR gathered images and spectral data that contributed to the understanding of asteroid origins and compositions. This groundbreaking research paved the way for future missions to other asteroids and significantly advanced humanity's knowledge of these celestial bodies.

The NEAR Shoemaker mission culminated in a successful landing on Eros in February 2001, bringing an end to a pioneering project that demonstrated the possibility of studying asteroids up close. Through its findings, NEAR Shoemaker provided vital information on the formation of the solar system and the materials that may have contributed to the formation of planets. The mission underscored the feasibility of long-duration space missions, enhancing the roadmap for future exploration of near-Earth objects and beyond.

Why Does it Matter?

The successful orbiting of NEAR Shoemaker around asteroid 433 Eros marked a major milestone in space exploration, demonstrating the technological capabilities required for studying distant celestial bodies. This event established a framework for future asteroid missions, emphasizing the importance of asteroids in understanding the early solar system and the potential for mining and resource extraction.

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