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(meteorobs) [ASTRO] NEAR Update - February 25, 2000
------- Forwarded Message
From: Ron Baalke <BAALKE@KELVIN.JPL.NASAdot gov>
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 20:48:59 GMT
Subject: [ASTRO] NEAR Update - February 25, 2000
NEAR Mission Status Reports - http://near.jhuapldot edu
February 25, 2000
MISSION OPERATIONS:
We've had another good week.
The NEAR satellite continued to operate nominally during its first week in
orbit around the asteroid Eros. NEAR has been in Operational Mode with
Flight Computer #1 and Attitude Interface Unit #2 in control. The MSI,
NIS, and MAG instruments remained "ON" during this week. S/C attitude
pointing continues to alternate between Eros nadir proximity pointing,
Earth pointing, and Sun pointing as required to conduct Eros orbital
operations.
Since orbit insertion, NEAR has been in a 321km x 366km orbit around Eros.
The first Orbit Correction Maneuver (OCM 1) was conducted on February 24
at 12:00 p.m. EST. Initial review of accelerometer and Doppler data
indicates the orbital maneuver was successful. OCM 1 has placed NEAR into
a 366km x 200km transfer orbit.
Science activities conducted this week, post orbit insertion, included
Eros "high altitude" observations with the MSI, NIS, and MAG instruments.
These have included a combination of the following activities on a daily
basis:
- Navigation optical navigation
- MSI/NIS Daily Global observations
- MSI/NIS Global Morphology observations
- MSI Star Calibrations
All of the above instrument activities executed successfully onboard the
NEAR spacecraft.
In addition, on February 22nd, the XGRS instrument was turned back on.
Its high voltage was turned on February 23rd.
Upcoming Spacecraft Activities:
In addition to regular Eros tracking and optical navigation, the following
are operationally significant activities planned: Please consult NEAR
science timelines for more details regarding upcoming science activities.
Feb 25 NLR instrument turn on
Mar 3 1800 UTC Eros Orbit Correction Maneuver 2
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