NEAR SHOEMAKER WEEKLY REPORT

April 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)












Debra 



Debra L Fletcher
The Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory
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Laurel, MD  20723-6099  


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Email: debra.fletcher@jhuapl.edu