The landing of the NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft on asteroid 433 Eros

J. Veverka (), B. Farquhar, M. Robinson, P. Thomas, S. Murchie, A. Harch, P. G. Antreasian, S. R. Chesley, J. K. Miller, W. M. Owen, B. G. Williams, D. Yeomans, D. Dunham, G. Heyler, M. Holdridge, R. L. Nelson, K. E. Whittenburg, J. C. Ray, B. Carcich, A. Cheng, C. Chapman, J. F. Bell, M. Bell, B. Bussey, B. Clark, D. Domingue, M. J. Gaffey, E. Hawkins, N. Izenberg, J. Joseph, R. Kirk, P. Lucey, M. Malin, L. McFadden, W. J. Merline, C. Peterson, L. Prockter, J. Warren and D. Wellnitz
Additional contact information
J. Veverka: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
B. Farquhar: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
M. Robinson: Northwestern University, 309 Locy Hall
P. Thomas: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
S. Murchie: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
A. Harch: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
P. G. Antreasian: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
S. R. Chesley: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
J. K. Miller: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
W. M. Owen: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
B. G. Williams: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
D. Yeomans: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
D. Dunham: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
G. Heyler: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
M. Holdridge: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
R. L. Nelson: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
K. E. Whittenburg: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
J. C. Ray: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
B. Carcich: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
A. Cheng: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
C. Chapman: Southwest Research Institute
J. F. Bell: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
M. Bell: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
B. Bussey: Northwestern University, 309 Locy Hall
B. Clark: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
D. Domingue: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
M. J. Gaffey: Science Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
E. Hawkins: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
N. Izenberg: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
J. Joseph: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
R. Kirk: US Geological Survey
P. Lucey: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii
M. Malin: Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.
L. McFadden: University of Maryland
W. J. Merline: Southwest Research Institute
C. Peterson: Space Sciences Building, Cornell University
L. Prockter: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
J. Warren: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
D. Wellnitz: University of Maryland

Nature, 2001, vol. 413, issue 6854, 390-393

Abstract: Abstract The NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft was designed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the S-type asteroid 433 Eros (refs 1,2,3), an irregularly shaped body with approximate dimensions of 34 × 13 × 13 km. Following the completion of its year-long investigation, the mission was terminated with a controlled descent to its surface, in order to provide extremely high resolution images. Here we report the results of the descent on 12 February 2001, during which 70 images were obtained. The landing area is marked by a paucity of small craters and an abundance of ‘ejecta blocks’. The properties and distribution of ejecta blocks are discussed in a companion paper4. The last sequence of images reveals a transition from the blocky surface to a smooth area, which we interpret as a ‘pond’. Properties of the ‘ponds’ are discussed in a second companion paper5. The closest image, from an altitude of 129 m, shows the interior of a 100-m-diameter crater at 1-cm resolution.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35096507

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