NASA's NEAR was the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid and also was the first to land on one.
- NEAR's landing on Eros marked the first time a U.S. spacecraft was the first to land on a celestial body, having been beaten by the Soviets in landing on the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
- Remarkably, the spacecraft – which was not designed as a lander – survived touchdown on the asteroid and returned valuable data for about two weeks.
- NASA renamed the spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker in honor of renowned geologist Eugene M. Shoemaker (1928–1997).
- Last contact with NEAR was Feb. 28, 2001, the spacecraft having succumbed to the extreme cold.
