Click image for larger TIF file: 883K
Click image for larger TIF file: 883K
NEAR carries an X-band radio transponder operating at 3848 MHz, that allows spacecraft position and velocity to be measured. The spacecraft’s radial velocity relative to receiving stations on Earth can be measured to better than 0.1 mm/s when the data are properly calibrated. While the NEAR spacecraft is in close proximity to an asteroid such as Mathilde or Eros, the spacecraft’s direction and velocity are modified by the asteroid's gravity. The radio signal is shifted by the Doppler effect. These spacecraft position and velocity changes, which are monitored using tracking data, allow calculation of mass of the asteroid.
MSI NIS NLR XGRS MAG RS
