Approaching Asteroid Eros
Explanation:
Today, at about 3 pm EST, the
first human-made spacecraft is scheduled to touchdown
on an
asteroid.
At an impact speed of 8 kilometers per hour,
it is most probable that the
robot spacecraft NEAR-Shoemaker
will not survive its
planned collision with
433 Eros.
A primary reason for the descent,
diagrammed above, will be to take images during the
four hours on the way down.
If all goes well, some of those pictures will show
surface features
as small as 10 centimeters across.
Scientists hope to learn more about this unusual
Manhattan-sized rock that is,
quite possibly, older than the
Earth.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
