2000 Apr 11

NEAR Mission Moves to the Next Stage

The NEAR mission moved smoothly to its next stage after a 5-second engine burn on April 11 nudged NEAR Shoemaker into a circular orbit about 62 miles (100 kilometers) from asteroid Eros. At the time of the engine burn, the spacecraft was about 128 million miles (206 million kilometers) from Earth.

Getting its best look at Eros so far, the spacecraft will remain at this orbital distance for 11 days, moving around the asteroid three times at just under 5 miles per hour. Another maneuver on April 22 will start lowering the spacecraft into its prime scientific orbit, which starts April 30, when the spacecraft is 31 miles (50 kilometers) from Eros' center.

NEAR Shoemaker has circled Eros five times since meeting up with the asteroid on Feb. 14, providing data on the space rock's surface, shape and composition that has exceeded scientists' early expectations.

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