NEAR Shoemaker
AgencyNASA
Year1996-2001
TypeAsteroid orbit and landing
RocketDelta II
CountryUSA
About the Mission
The first spacecraft to orbit and land on an asteroid. Mapped the peanut shaped Eros for a year from orbit. With fuel nearly spent, controllers gently set it down on the surface in February 2001, an unplanned bonus. It transmitted from the surface for about two weeks. Named for planetary scientist Eugene Shoemaker.
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