NEAR-Shoemaker

The name of my mission is NEAR-Shoemaker, or the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous. The name is an acronym for Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous and the Shoemaker is in dedication of Dr. Eugene M. Shoemaker, who was a planetary scientist. NEARs main objectives were pretty much to examine the asteroid 433 Eros. This mission launched in February of 1996, and made its last broadcast in February of 2001. The more specific details on what to examine was to measure shape, mass, density, gravity field, magnetic field and spin state, determine elemental and mineralogical composition, and to identify physical, geological and morphological characteristics of the second largest of the near-Earth asteroids, 433 Eros. NEAR-Shoemaker was a complete success and it actually exceeded all mission expectations. It not only measured, determined, and identified, it actually went onto the asteroid on an unplanned landing. It took amazing photos from close orbit, during descent, and from on the face of the asteroid. The clarity was amazing and were the first ever to have been taken. NEAR launched on February 17, 1996. On its way to 433 Eros, it flew past the main-belt asteroid 253 Mathilde, providing the closest view of an asteroid to date and the first look at a C-type asteroid, the dark, carbon-rich, most common type of asteroid. On June 27, 1997, flying through space at 22,000 mph, NEAR flew within 750 miles of the heavily cratered Mathilde asteroid, taking images and measurements for about 25 minutes the first Discovery science data return ever. NEAR entered into a year-long orbit around Eros on February 14, 2000. It made an unplanned landing on February 12, 2001, and made its last call to Earth on February 28, 2001.

The probe the mission was based on was the NEAR probe equipped with an MSI (MultiSpectral Imager), an NIS (NEAR Infrared Spectrometer), an NLR (NEAR Laser Rangefinder), an XGRS (X-ray/Gamma-Ray Spectrometer), and a MAG (Magnetometer). The MSI imaged Eros in multiple spectral bands to determine its shape and surface features, and to map mineral distributions. The NIS measured the near-infrared spectrum to determine the distribution and abundance of surface minerals like olivine and pyroxene. The NLR measured the range to the surface to build up high resolution topographic profiles. This data gave a global shape model of Eros. The XGRS had two modes, X-ray and Gamma-ray. The X-Ray Spectrometer detected Xray fluorescence from elements on the asteroid surface excited by solar X-rays. The Gamma-Ray Spectrometer detected gamma rays from specific elements on the surface. Some of the emissions were excited by cosmic rays and some were from natural radioactivity in the asteroid. The MAG simply searched for and mapped any intrinsic magnetic field around Eros. The actual space probe weighed 805 kg including propellant and was 1.7 square meters at the base. The basic design was a three-axis stabilized craft with fixed solar panels fixed 1.5-m high-gain antenna, fixed instruments, a passive thermal design, and redundant critical subsystems. It was powered by four-1800 W @ 1 AU gallium arsenide solar panels. For propulsion it used 1 100-lb thruster, 4 5-lb thrusters, 7 1-lb thrusters which added up to a total Delta V of 1450 m/s. The many subsystems included Flight software, Mechanical, Structure, Thermal, Command & Data, Handling, Telecommunications, Propulsion, Power, Guidance & Control, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and Test Equipment. For launch, it was rocketed into space by the Delta NEAR rocket. The tip of the rocket held the NEAR probe, and ejected into space during the end of the launch. The tiny maneuvering thrusters on NEAR guided it towards its target.

Briefly once more, the objectives and goals for this mission were accomplished and were exceeded, as the spacecraft even made a landing for extremely close-up pictures of 443 Eros. It measured, determined, and identified pretty much every aspect of the asteroid 443 Eros. I think that this mission did really accomplish its goal and exceed all expectations. It was a huge success and allowed us to learn more about asteroids of many sorts, such as 253 Mathilde and 443 Eros. This made a large difference in the scientific world because this was the first mission to an asteroid and we received much information that was prior unknown. In a cinch, the mission NEAR-Shoemaker was a success with flying colors.