United States Air ForceDelta II 7925-8Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NEAR Shoemaker
Launched
February 17, 1996
Image: NASA
Summary
NEAR Shoemaker launched on an United States Air Force Delta II 7925-8 from Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on February 17, 1996. It was United States Air Force's 960th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 4,050th orbital launch attempt. It was the 2nd Delta II 7925-8 flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Heliocentric N/A (Helio-N/A). 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Delta II 7925-8 · United States Air ForceDiscovery Program
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Planetary Science · Heliocentric N/A (Helio-N/A)
- Milestone
- 2nd Delta II 7925-8 flight · 1st this yearUnited States Air Force's 960th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 4,050th orbital launch attempt9th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Catalogued objects
3 catalogued: 1 payload, 2 rocket stages
- NEAR Shoemaker · NORAD 23784 · left Earth orbit February 18, 1996
Delta 232 · re-entered January 17, 1998
Delta 232 Stage 3 · left Earth orbit February 18, 1996
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) was a mission to rendezvous and orbit around an near earth asteroid (433 Eros). On the cruise to Eros, it flew by asteroid 253 Mathilde on 27 Jun 1997 and flew by earth on 23 January 1998. After failing to insert itself into Eros' orbit in January 1999, NEAR finally inserted itself into orbit around the asteroid on the second try on 14 February 2000. Initially in a 323 km × 370 km orbit, it lowered its altitude during observation. After reaching orbit, NEAR was renamed NEAR-Shoemaker.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
102nd launch from Space Launch Complex 17B, 2nd this year · 509th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
132 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
34 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did NEAR Shoemaker launch?
NEAR Shoemaker launched on February 17, 1996. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch NEAR Shoemaker?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched NEAR Shoemaker?
Delta II 7925-8, flown by United States Air Force. Delta II 7925-8 spec sheet
Where did NEAR Shoemaker launch from?
Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was NEAR Shoemaker going to?
Heliocentric N/A (Helio-N/A), a planetary science mission.
How many satellites did NEAR Shoemaker launch?
1 payload from this launch is catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is NEAR Shoemaker part of?
Discovery Program. About Discovery Program