From its orbit around the asteroid Eros, the NEAR spacecraft will assist in the research
Gamma ray bursts
Avishai Gal-Yam
18/3/2000
In the photo: a light source that appeared shortly after the gamma ray burst that was picked up by the "Interstellar Network"
In February 1996, NASA launched the NEAR spacecraft for a journey of almost three
years The mission: to reach the asteroid "Eros" and become the artificial satellite
The first will circle and explore one of the thousands of asteroids - blocks of rock
and relatively small metals, only some of which exceed a few dozen in length
kilometers - the holidays in the solar system.
About three years later, in December 1998, a few minutes before completion
A series of maneuvers that were supposed to put the spacecraft into the final orbit
In the direction of Eros, a malfunction occurred. The engines were shut down due to a sudden failure
in the control system, and the spacecraft went into a spin and lost contact with center
The supervision of the earth. The robotic control system installed in "Nir"
went into action and began implementing an emergency plan. After 27 hours they succeeded
The spacecraft's computers stabilize it and resume contact with Earth, however
The critical point in the route was missed. "Nir" had to circle once more
around the sun, before you can try to reach Eros again - more than a year
Later.
Indeed, on February 14 this year, Saint Valentine's Day, the day of lovers,
The spacecraft reached its target, the asteroid Eros. Mission target not selected
Because of its sensual name: the length of the asteroid - about forty kilometers - makes
It is the largest of the asteroids whose orbit passes close to the Earth. objects
These are called "Near Earth Asteroids" and hence the name of the spaceship: "Mezhad".
With an asteroid close to Earth" (Earth Asteroid - Rendezvous NEAR
near). Most of the asteroids orbit in a relatively small area in space, between
The orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter, known as the "asteroid belt".
In contrast, Eros, like thousands of smaller bodies, moves in orbits
Exceptions that sometimes bring them very close to the Earth. The fact that
Charos passes close to Earth and is large enough to allow
A spacecraft circled the orbit around it, making it a tempting target for a research mission.
Nir's main goal is to investigate the structure and mineral composition of
The asteroid, to test the connections between asteroids and meteorites
which fall from time to time on the face of the earth. This information is essential to understanding
The creation processes of planets and asteroids in the solar system. in months
In the near future, the spacecraft will circle in a very close orbit, about fifty kilometers above it
Eros' territory. From such an altitude, the spacecraft's cameras are able to distinguish bodies
which are tens of meters in size on the surface of the asteroid. The accumulated information is transmitted in
Contiguous to the control center in the USA.
However, Nir's research tasks are not limited to the space closest to us. On
In order to derive maximum benefit from the spacecraft, especially during the long periods
that he spends on an interstellar journey, radiation detectors were installed on the spacecraft
Gamma, which make it possible to study cosmic events occurring at the far edges
most of the universe and are called "gamma ray bursts".
Gamma-ray bursts have been studied by astronomers for more than twenty years
sleep. These are short bursts, a few seconds long, of radiation,
coming to earth from all sides. In recent years it has been proven that
The eruptions occur in distant galaxies throughout the universe and involve
By releasing a huge amount of energy, only a tiny part of it reaches us.
The search for the mechanism that causes these outbreaks is one of the topics
The most active and interesting research in astronomy today.
It turns out that some of the gamma ray bursts are accompanied by additional radiation: flashes
of X-rays, visible light, infrared radiation and radio waves. You
The accompanying radiation can be absorbed even many days after the eruption of rays
The gamma subsided like that. The study of this radiation is one of the most important tools
To understand the mysterious cosmic eruptions. The detection hall of the radiation
accompanying gamma bursts is not simple at all. The best detectors
that exist today are not able to accurately indicate the direction from which
Here comes the radiation, necessary information for astronomers around the world to know
Where to point telescopes and look for the desired light or radio waves.
In addition, observations from Earth or from satellites in close orbits
Limited by the Sun: You cannot look towards or near the Sun
Because of the strong radiation emitted from it.
To help solve these problems, the "interstellar network" - a system - was established
of spacecraft and satellites spread throughout the solar system, equipped with detectors
For pleasant gamma rays in orbits that the sun's radiation hardly interferes with viewing
from them. The network currently includes the "Ulysses" spacecraft, sailing in a remote orbit
Around the sun, the Nir spacecraft, the WIND satellite that studies the solar wind
From a distant orbit between the earth and the sun and some satellites around the holidays
Earth including the old space observatory "Compton", the American satellite
RXTE and the Dutch-Italian satellite -.Sax Beppo in the middle of next year
Should join the US space vehicle network, "Mars Surveyor 2001."
which will orbit around Mars. The integration of the information received from the spacecraft
The variation makes it possible to pinpoint the exact direction from which the gamma radiation came
which makes it possible to examine the appropriate area in the sky using additional telescopes
on earth and in space. The signals coming from the interstellar network are processed
quickly, automatically. The information collected throughout the solar system is distributed
Within hours to astronomers around the world (including the observatories of
Tel Aviv University in Mitzpe Ramon) so that they can look for the radiation
accompanying the gamma bursts before it fades and disappears.
Thus, the Nir satellite, which was sent to study one of our closest neighbors, the asteroid Eros, also helps in innovative research of events taking place in the depths of the universe.
{Appeared in Haaretz newspaper, 15/3/2000{
In honor of Valentine's Day - the asteroid "Eros" will have a visitor
6/1/01
A NASA research satellite will crash on February 12 on the asteroid after a year
of his cap and his photograph
News agencies
Exactly two days before the Valentine's Day celebrations, land,
Or rather, the American space agency, NASA, will crash a research satellite
On the asteroid "Eros" - named after the Greek god of love. landing,
To be the first landing on such a tiny planet, will happen
on Monday the 12th of February. After landing the satellite will start
"Near-Shoemaker" (Near-Shoemaker) to transmit images to the earth that will teach
the researchers on the trajectory of the asteroid.
It is still unclear whether the landing will be successful as scientists do not have enough
Information about the rocky surface of the asteroid. It is certainly possible that
The satellite will crash into pieces during the landing.
The research satellite, named after an American astronomer, was launched into space in
'96 and today it orbits Eros. The asteroid is moving in orbit
Fixed between Mars and the Earth, its length is 33 kilometers, and its diameter is 13
kilometer.
The satellite has so far taken more than 160 pictures of the asteroid, so that too
If he fails to land successfully, NASA says that he has fulfilled the
his mission.
Dr. Edward Weiler, a senior researcher at NASA, claims that the research makes it possible
For astronomers to get to know the so-called "bodies close to the sphere".
Country". "These are objects that in the past caused bad days for certain super animals
The surface of the earth - i.e. the dinosaurs. We see great importance in learning
As much as possible on these objects", says Wheeler.
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