The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) was the first mission to orbit and eventually land on an asteroid. A phenomenal success, the mission returned with hundreds of thousands of images, spectra, and other measurements about the large near-Earth asteroid 433 Eros.
Some of the scientists and engineers who made NEAR such a success describe the mission here in their own words, from the initial concept studies, through the development phase, launch, cruise operations, the flyby of asteroid Mathilde, the near-catastrophic main engine failure in 1998, the heroic rescue and recovery of the spacecraft, the amazing year-long up-close look at one of Earth's most primitive celestial neighbours, and, finally, the daring attempt to land the spacecraft on Eros at the end of the mission. The book is illustrated throughout with images from the mission and explanatory diagrams.
About the Editors
Jim Bell is an Assistant Professor in the Cornell University Astronomy Department whose research focuses on the geology, chemistry, and mineralogy of planets, asteroids, and comets using data obtained from telescopes and spacecraft missions. He is a member of a number of space science teams, including the NASA Mars Pathfinder and NEAR. Author of some 70 first and co-authored journal publications, he is a frequent contributor to popular astronomy magazines and radio shows. The International Astronomical Union recently awarded him the honour of having asteroid 8146 Jimbell named after him.
Jacqueline Mitton is the Press Officer and a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a member of the International Astronomical Union, and a Member of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. She is the author or co-author of 16 astronomy books; her most recent being The Cambridge Dictionary of Astronomy (2001).
Industry Reviews
'... you will find that the opinions of the mission director vie with the leader and members of the science team ... This diversity of views makes the book refreshingly reminiscent of the cut and thrust of space mission planning and execution. the illustrations are superb, with the most astounding images of asteroids obtained so far. Asteroid Rendezvous is a really informative and enjoyable book and a most fitting tribute to an astoundingly successful space mission.' New Scientist 'This is a collection of personal accounts of the successful NEAR-Shoemaker mission from the scientists and engineers who worked on it. ... The enthusiasm of the teams involved with this mission comes across forcefully, as well as the numbers of people and their diverse concerns. It is also a good round-up of current thinking on asteroid composition, not least because the observations from this mission make up a significant part of our body of knowledge about these small but important members of the solar system.' A&G 'Bell and Mitton have written an excellent text and it is well illustrated.' Richard Taylor, Spaceflight ' ... I am pleased with this hardcopy record of what was an exciting mission with many thrills and spills for the reader to follow. I particularly appreciated the bibliography page, which contains some excellent and very pertinent pointers for further information, including books, general articles, technical papers and Websites. I for one will want to follow up on some of the details mentioned in the text for which I now have an appetite to learn more.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association
