The car-sized spacecraft is observing Eros from various distances and will come within several miles of its surface before the mission ends in February 2001. NASA's Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission is nearing 433 Eros. It is scheduled to go into orbit around the space rock on Valentines Day, 2000. Critical science observations of Eros are scheduled to begin 11 hours before NEAR's orbit insertion on Valentines Day, 2000. First Orbit Around an Asteroid - February 14, 2000.
Scientists review exciting results from the first few days in orbit.
NEARer to Eros - February 25, 2000. NEAR moves closer to Eros.