Laser scans of the asteroid s dark southern side suggest surprises in the offing, Cheng said. There are already indications of some very large features now in permanent shadow. Once the July maneuvers are completed, the probe will boosted to higher-altitude passes. At the end of the year, it will in the right position to photograph the asteroid s sunlit southern hemisphere. By mission s end in February 2001, the entire rock of ages will have been surveyed.
Prospects look good for easing the probe down to a final resting spot on Eros.