The Spacecraft That Wasn't Designed To Land, But Did

The video discusses the Near Shoemaker mission, part of NASA's Discovery program, which aimed to explore the asteroid Eros. Despite a limited budget and time, the mission achieved significant scientific discoveries, including the first mass estimation of an asteroid and detecting a gamma ray burst. Near Shoemaker faced challenges, such as an engine misfire, but successfully orbited and landed on Eros, providing valuable data. The mission demonstrated the potential of cost-effective space exploration and paved the way for future asteroid missions.

What was the primary goal of NASA's Discovery program, which included the Near Shoemaker mission?

• To conduct manned missions to asteroids

• To develop spacecraft with advanced technology

• To answer a single scientific question about a specific body

• To explore multiple celestial bodies with a single mission

What was significant about Near Shoemaker's encounter with asteroid 253 Matilda?

• It discovered water on the asteroid

• It was NASA's first encounter with a C Class asteroid

• It was the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid

• It captured images of a comet

What unexpected event did Near Shoemaker detect on its way to Eros?

• A black hole

• A meteor shower

• A gamma ray burst

• A solar flare

What did Near Shoemaker's data reveal about the composition of Eros?

• It was composed mainly of ice

• It was made of pure iron

• It was similar to stony meteorites found on Earth

• It had a strong magnetic field

What was the outcome of Near Shoemaker's controlled descent onto Eros?

• It bounced off the surface and returned to orbit

• It was destroyed upon impact

• It landed successfully and continued to collect data

• It crashed and stopped functioning

How did Near Shoemaker continue to contribute to science after its landing?

• By deploying a rover

• By collecting gamma ray data from just above the surface

• By sending back images from the surface

• By drilling into the asteroid

What was a key lesson from the Near Shoemaker mission?

• Manned missions are more effective than unmanned ones

• Space missions should focus on multiple objectives

• Missions on a budget can still achieve significant scientific results

• Advanced technology is necessary for successful space missions