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[View Image]
| .....The Near Earth
Asteroid Prospector (NEAP) is a
spacecraft being built and operated by a
private company, SpaceDev. The NEAP
spacecraft will be a hexagonal prism
approximately 1.2 m tall by 2.5 m wide
with a mass of 300 - 700 kg. After launch
the NEAP will enter a phasing orbit and
will make at least six close passes over
the north and south poles of the Moon. In
January 2002 NEAP will fire its kick
motor to put it on course for a
rendezvous with asteroid 4660 Nereus in
May 2002. Observation of the asteroid
will take place over 1 to 3 months, and
will include dropping one or more
instruments on the surface. Finally the
spacecraft itself will land on the
asteroid in July 2002. SpaceDev plans to
claim ownership of Nereus after the
landing. |
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