NEAR begins flight to Eros asteroid surface

The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft began reducing its orbit on 24 January to end the formal exploration of the asteroid Eros in preparation for a landing on the asteroid on 12 February.

NEAR Shoemaker will move from its current 35km (22 mile) circular orbit into a path that will take it to within 5-6km of the surface during five or six passes in a four-day period.

On 28 January, the craft will move to within 2km of the surface for the final scheduled exploration before moving back into the 35km circular orbit.

The controlled descent on 12 February will end with images being taken from about 500m (1640ft). The craft will then make a soft touchdown near to a saddle-shaped depression, discovered in the first images produced by the craft last February.

Source: Flight International