-Caveat Lector- Spacecraft Camera Misses Asteroid By MATTHEW FORDAHL .c The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) - A NASA spacecraft that made the closest flyby ever of an asteroid apparently misaimed its camera and failed to get any close-ups of the giant orbiting rock, disappointing scientists Thursday. The Deep Space 1 probe flew within about 10 miles of the Asteroid Braille on Wednesday night, but the pictures it sent back back show only empty space, said Robert Nelson, project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. ``This is analogous to mispointing a camera and getting a blank field of view,'' he said. ``It's not very exciting if this hypothesis holds out.'' The barrel-shaped, 8-foot spacecraft, launched in October and designed primarily to test new forms of technology for future deep-space flights, otherwise accomplished all of the objectives of the $152 million mission, NASA said. And some science data still might be returned. An instrument that analyzes charged particles called ions appeared to be operating normally. Such data could help researchers figure out the rock's makeup. One of the tested technologies was a self-navigating system that lets the spacecraft set its own course. But the system lost sight of the asteroid with its camera about 20 minutes before the 35,000 mph encounter at 9:46 p.m., NASA said. ``This whole asteroid encounter was pure bonus,'' said deputy mission manager Marc Rayman. ``The objectives of the mission had already been accomplished before the encounter - that is to test high-risk technologies for future missions.'' Still, the blank pictures are disappointing to scientists, especially because so little is known about the thousands of asteroids that irregularly orbit the sun and sometimes collide with the planets. An asteroid that hit Earth 65 million years ago is believed to be responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. The flyby took place more than 117 million miles from Earth, between Earth and Mars. Among the other futuristic technologies tested was an ion propulsion engine that moved the spacecraft by sending out a stream of high-speed ins. Ion engines deliver 10 times more thrust than a conventional engine for a given amount of fuel. That means spacecraft can be smaller, lighter and less expensive to launch into space. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
