SPACE.com -- Deep Space 1 Captures Asteroid in Infrared


	Deep Space 1 Captures Asteroid in Infrared By Irene Brown Cape Canaveral Bureau Chief posted: 08:33 am ET 02 August 1999

Deep Space 1 captures asteroid in infrared

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Calling the Deep Space 1 close encounter with an asteroid "extraordinarily exciting," mission managers are continuing to cull through information radioed back to Earth after the probe's approach to asteroid Braille last week.

Although the spacecraft did not return any close-up pictures during the flyby, images of the asteroid taken from an infrared sensor are now being analyzed, according to chief engineer Marc Rayman, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Rayman said it remains a mystery why the probe didn't return any visual images from the encounter. Some scientists believe the asteroid is a lot darker than expected; others say Deep Space 1's autonomous navigation system did not properly aim the spacecraft for its cameras to be in the correct position.

Nevertheless, Rayman says the flyby was "a spectacular finale to an incredible mission."

NASA is considering extending the probe's mission, now scheduled to end on Sept. 18. Deep Space 1 is a technology demonstration flight intended to test techniques and equipment for future robotic space probes.

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