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Exploration of Near Earth Objects (1998) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-2

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From page 1...
... The scientific goals of a focused NEO exploration program are to determine their orbital distribution, physical characteristics, composition, and origin. Physical characteristics, such as size, shape, and spin properties, have been measured for approximately 80 NEOs using observations at infrared, radar, and visible wavelengths.
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From page 2...
... The baseline recommendation with respect to laboratory studies and instrumentation is that NASA and other appropriate agencies should support continued research on extraterrestrial materials to understand the controls on spectra of NEOs and the physical processes that alter asteroid and comet surface materials. An appropriate augmentation to this baseline is to support the acquisition and development of new analytical instruments needed for further studies of extraterrestrial materials and for characterization of returned NEO samples.
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Key Terms

  • appropriate agencies
  • physical characteristics
  • spacecraft missions
  • sample return
  • extraterrestrial materials

  • neo exploration
  • priority order
  • laboratory studies
  • program include
  • currently inferred

  • comet surface
  • essential components
  • spin properties
  • appropriate baseline
  • recommended baseline

  • astronaut missions
  • baseline recommendation
  • multiple penetrators
  • flight duration
  • exploration missions

  • future human
  • develop policies
  • focused neo
  • accessible targets
  • surface materials

  • coordinate currently
  • support continued
  • devising appropriate
  • develop technological
  • visible wavelengths


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