NASA Spacecraft’s Miraculous Asteroid Landing | Aakhir Tak

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

24 years ago, a NASA spacecraft miraculously landed on an asteroid. The spacecraft had no landing system. It was the first spacecraft to orbit and land on a minor planet. The spacecraft survived for two weeks and transmitted crucial data. NASA is now studying asteroid 2024 YR4, which is approaching Earth.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

When Nasa Spacecraft Miraculously Landed on an Asteroid Without Any Plan

Twenty-four years ago, a spacecraft with no landing mechanism touched down on a chunk of rock in space. Defying all odds, the Nasa spacecraft became the first in history to not just orbit a minor planet, but touch it. It miraculously survived for two weeks and transmitted crucial data back to the Earth. This asteroid landing made history.

The air outside the mission control in Maryland was biting, the temperature barely hovering at 3°C, but inside, the tension was far colder — measured not in degrees, but in sheer uncertainty. This asteroid landing was a difficult task.

It was February 12, 2001, a tiny spacecraft, floating 355 million kilometers away, was about to attempt the impossible. The asteroid landing preparation was underway.

As the spacecraft hovered above the target, engineers sitting on their consoles were beyond stressed. They had never done this before. This was never the plan. There was no blueprint for what was about to happen. This asteroid landing was an unplanned event.

Their tiny spacecraft was about to land on a chunk of rock drifting aimlessly in the vacuum of space — an asteroid. There was a lack of information about this asteroid landing.

Twenty-four years after that cold February afternoon, researchers across the world are racing against time to study another rock drifting in space, but this time it’s coming straight at us. Nasa has confirmed asteroid 2024 YR4 has over two percent chance of colliding with Earth and if it’s not zero, astronomers don’t take any chances. The asteroid 2024 YR4 is a threat.

A Daring Gamble

When Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (Near) began its journey from Earth on February 17, 1996, the plan was simple, become the first human-made object to orbit an asteroid.

It was never meant to land.

The primary mission was to rendezvous with the minor planet 433 Eros, an S-class asteroid, about 355 million kilometers from Earth and to gather data on its physical properties, mineral components, morphology, internal mass distribution, and magnetic field. This asteroid mission was to collect data.

After spending a year in space, Near first arrived at asteroid Mathilde in June 1997, coming as close as just 1,200 kilometers from the surface. Then it came back to Earth for a gravity assist to be slingshotted across space towards Eros. There was also a discovery on asteroid Mathilde.

That’s where it all went wrong.

A Missed Burn

Space missions rarely go exactly as planned, and for Near spacecraft, destiny took an unexpected turn. Just days before it was set to meet the asteroid Eros, an aborted engine burn on December 20, 1998, threw its trajectory off course, forcing mission controllers to rewrite the script.

The setback meant Near couldn’t reach Eros as originally scheduled — a crucial rendezvous hanging in the balance. The asteroid mission was hampered.

But, adversity in space often leads to new discoveries. There was new information discovered about the asteroid.

Engineers quickly plotted an alternate path, setting Near on a backup trajectory that would allow an improvised flyby. And so, on December 23, 1998, the spacecraft made its first close pass of Eros, skimming about 3,827 kilometers from its center of mass. Information was found on asteroid Eros.

During this unplanned encounter, Near surveyed roughly 60% of the asteroid’s surface and uncovered a surprising revelation — the space rock was smaller than anticipated. The size of the asteroid was discovered.

A mission that had momentarily veered off course was now rewriting what we knew about Eros, proving once again that in space exploration, even detours can lead to discovery. The asteroid mission made an unexpected discovery.

On Valentine’s Day in 2000, Near had its first date with Eros as it moved into a stable orbit around the asteroid, becoming the first human-made object to orbit a minor planet. The asteroid mission was successful.

Match Made in Heaven

Throughout 2000, the spacecraft methodically adjusted its orbit, inching ever closer to asteroid Eros. But the journey wasn’t without turbulence. The asteroid mission had challenges.

On May 13, an unexpected power surge forced mission controllers to shut down the Near’s infrared spectrometer. Still, the mission pressed on. The asteroid mission did not stop.

By April 30, Near settled into a stable orbit about 50 km above Eros. Then, in July, it plunged even lower — 19 km from the surface — before briefly retreating. The asteroid was approached closely.

But October 26 brought the most daring manoeuvre yet: a breathtaking flyby a mere 5.3 km above the asteroid. Information was obtained close to the asteroid.

The grand finale came on February 12, 2001. After a slow, controlled descent, Near became the first spacecraft from Earth to land on a celestial body, touching down at a gentle 6.4 kmph. The asteroid landing became history.

Against all odds, it survived, transmitting crucial data for two more weeks, giving Earth its first close view of another celestial body, a minor planet, but a big asteroid. Important information was found from the asteroid landing.

24 years later, as astronomers race against time to study and analyse 2024 YR4 cruising towards Earth with uncertainties, lessons from Near’s daunting flight, a missed burn and a daring touchdown will still be fresh in their minds. The study on asteroid 2024 YR4 is underway.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

NASA spacecraft’s miraculous asteroid landing without plan. Thrilling story from 24 years ago. NASA now studying 2024 YR4.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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