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The Launch of NEAR: February 17, 1996
NEAR was launched flawlessly on the second day of its "launch window”, in which the configuration of Earth and Eros allowed the spacecraft to reach its destination using the fuel carried by the onboard rocket engines. The launch vehicle, a Delta 7925, was the smallest rocket used to date to launch a planetary mission. Once in space, the rocket started the spacecraft spinning to maintain a stable attitude until it could be deployed successfully.
The launch of NEAR
45 minutes after launch, the spacecraft emerged from the rocket nose cone, extended its solar panels to receive power from sunlight, stopped its spinning, and initiated its communication with ground controllers.
Video simulation of NEAR despinning and
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deploying its solar panels.
Comments are welcome
Copyright © 1998-1999 JHU APL All Rights Reserved
Created: 20 Dec, 1998
Revised: 22 Jan, 1999
http://www.jhuapl.edu
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