From The Compass, Vol. 2, No. 1, October, 1997.
On June 27 the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) ( http://hurlbut.jhuapl.edu/NEAR/Mathilde/) spacecraft passed just 745 miles from the asteroid 253 Mathilda. At a speed of just over 6 miles per second NEAR snapped some 500 images of Mathilda during its brief flyby. NEAR found that Mathilda, like most asteroids, is irregular in shape measuring in at 35 by 33 by 31 miles. It reflects only 3-4.5 % of the light that falls on it and is a dark, carbonaceous asteroid of very low density. NEAR continues onward to its next target an extended study of the asteroid 433 Eros beginning in January, 1999.
The Space Shuttle ( http://shuttle.nasa.gov/index.html/)took flight in July and August. Its main focus was the study of our atmosphere, and the flight of the Micro gravity Science Lab. However the main headlines for manned flight were stolen by the Russian space station MIR( http://shuttle-mir.nasa.gov/shuttle-mir/). On June 25 an unmanned Progress resupply vehicle struck the MIR station during a test of a manual redocking system causing the space station to begin losing air pressure. The team of two cosmonauts and one American astronaut were able to seal off the damaged module where the leak occurred and save the station. Since then they have performed both internal and external space walks to correct problems related to the accident. These and other problems that have plagued the ten year old space station have brought issues related to NASA's cooperation with the program into question.
Mars Pathfinder ( http://mars.sgi.com/default.html)successfully bounced down to Mars on the fourth of July. A day later it released Sojourner, the first roving vehicle onto the surface of Mars. The lander (now named Sagan Memorial Station) and rover have given us our most detailed view of the surface of the Red Planet. Sojourner has revealed the composition of several rocks which may indicate that Mars was more geologically active then scientists had thought. Both the lander and rover continue to operate and may operate for a full (Earth) year.
Meanwhile Mars Global Surveyor continued its approach to Mars, finally arriving in September. Its mapping mission will begin in March, 1998 after it has finished its aerobraking maneuvers which are needed to place it into the proper orbit.
The Galileo orbiter ( http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/) continues its tour of the Jupiter system. It has been funded for an additional two years of detailed study of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io and the moon Europa, which may have an ocean of water under its icy crust.
More launches are slated for the fall. In October or November the Cassini ( http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/)mission to Saturn should launch. This mission should arrive at Saturn in 2004. Its orbiter will study Saturn, its moons and rings, while its lander will study the large moon Titan. Late November should bring the launch of Lunar Prospector. Its mission is to map the mineralogy and possible water deposits on our Moon.
Stay Tuned!