[meteorite-list] Re: NEAR Bounces to Historic Landing on Asteroid Eros

From: E.L.Jones <jonee_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:41:10 2004
Message-ID: <3A8B4878.78C3FB19_at_epix.net>

What is the calculated acceleration for the area in which NEAR
landed? I am curious as to how long a "bounce" might endure there as
compared to here or upon the moon.

It occurs to me , since Eros is irregular by some 20 miles by 8 miles ,
as such, shouldn't there be some nodes where acceleration in fact
follows a vector towards the poles of Eros rather than the mid
latitudes? IF I am shooting for the middle of Eros to land might I get
drawn laterally by towards the greater mass? is there a strong center
of gravity er gravitational attraction on Eros? Maybe these boulders
are actually like Lemmings--- sliding towards the poles of Eros due to
gravity and centrifugal forces.

Regards,
Elton

"Matson, Robert" wrote:

> <snip>
> That's not to take away from the incredible achievement
> of successfully landing on a highly irregular asteroid
> using a spacecraft that was never designed to land.<snip>
Received on Wed 14 Feb 2001 10:09:50 PM PST