Asteroid Rendezvous: Near Shoemaker's Adventures at Eros

Foreword C. Shoemaker; 1. Eros and the asteroids J. Veverka; 2. A date with Eros R. Farquhar; 3. From launch to rendezvous S. Murchie; 4. Landscape of an asteroid L. Prockter and M. Robinson; 5. Form and substance P. Thomas and M. Zuber; 6. Ingredients of an asteroid J. Bell; 7. Shaped by history C. Chapman; 8. On course and picture perfect M. Bell and B. Owen; 9. Mission accomplished A. Cheng.

JIM BELL is an Assistant Professor in the Cornell University Astronomy department. He studied planetary science at Caltech and received his PhD from the University of Hawaii in 1992. His research focuses on the geology, chemistry, and mineralogy of planets, asteroids, and comets using data obtained from telescopes and spacecraft missions. He is a member of a number of space science teams, including the NASA Mars Pathfinder and NEAR. Author of some 70 first and co-authored journal publications, he is a frequent contributor to popular astronomy magazines and radio shows. The International Astronomical Union recently awarded him the honor of having asteroid 8146 Jimbell named after him. JACQUELINE MITTON trained as an astronomer (MA, Oxford, - physics; PhD, Cambridge - astrophysics). For about ten years she has been a full-time writer and media consultant specializing in astronomy. She has been the Press Officer (formerly called Public Relations Officer) of the Royal Astronomical Society since 1989, and was Editor of the Journal of the British Astronomical Association 1989-1993. She is the author or co-author of 16 published books.

'... you will find that the opinions of the mission director vie with the leader and members of the science team ... This diversity of views makes the book refreshingly reminiscent of the cut and thrust of space mission planning and execution. the illustrations are superb, with the most astounding images of asteroids obtained so far. Asteroid Rendezvous is a really informative and enjoyable book and a most fitting tribute to an astoundingly successful space mission.' New Scientist 'This is a collection of personal accounts of the successful NEAR-Shoemaker mission from the scientists and engineers who worked on it. ... The enthusiasm of the teams involved with this mission comes across forcefully, as well as the numbers of people and their diverse concerns. It is also a good round-up of current thinking on asteroid composition, not least because the observations from this mission make up a significant part of our body of knowledge about these small but important members of the solar system.' A&G 'Bell and Mitton have written an excellent text and it is well illustrated.' Richard Taylor, Spaceflight ' ... I am pleased with this hardcopy record of what was an exciting mission with many thrills and spills for the reader to follow. I particularly appreciated the bibliography page, which contains some excellent and very pertinent pointers for further information, including books, general articles, technical papers and Websites. I for one will want to follow up on some of the details mentioned in the text for which I now have an appetite to learn more.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association