NEAR spacecraft at Eros asteroid, illustration. Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft at the asteroid Eros. NEAR was the first mission in NASA's Discovery programme of small, low-cost spacecraft. Launched in February 1996, NEAR first flew by asteroid 253 Mathilde (1997) before entering orbit around 433 Eros in 1999. NEAR conducted a 10-month survey of the asteroid using visible light cameras, infrared and X-ray spectrometers and a laser altimeter. Image published in 1996.