ASTEROID, DRAWING

The asteroid Eros.
Illustration of the US space probe NEAR travelling through space to record observations.
- 1996: the NEAR probe is launched into space
- 1997: the probe orbits the asteroid Mathilde for close-up observation.
- 1998: failed attempt to rendezvous with the asteroid Eros.
- 2000: NEAR successfully inserted into orbit around Eros.
- 2001: NEAR lands on Eros.