Named in honor of astronomer Gene Shoemaker, the craft began orbiting asteroid 433 Eros on Feb. 14, 2000. NEAR Shoemaker landed on the asteroid a year later.
On Jan. 31, 2012, Eros 433 passed Earth at about 70 times the distance of the moon.
The NEAR Shoemaker space probe is famous for what feat it achieved this day in 2000?
The NEAR Shoemaker space probe is famous for what feat it achieved this day in 2000?
Answer: NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous - Shoemaker became the first probe to orbit an asteroid.
Named in honor of astronomer Gene Shoemaker, the craft began orbiting asteroid 433 Eros on Feb. 14, 2000. NEAR Shoemaker landed on the asteroid a year later.
On Jan. 31, 2012, Eros 433 passed Earth at about 70 times the distance of the moon.
Named in honor of astronomer Gene Shoemaker, the craft began orbiting asteroid 433 Eros on Feb. 14, 2000. NEAR Shoemaker landed on the asteroid a year later.
On Jan. 31, 2012, Eros 433 passed Earth at about 70 times the distance of the moon.
