NEAR Shoemaker is a space mission designed to study the near-Earth asteroid Eros. Launched in 1996, it was the first spacecraft to orbit and land on an asteroid. The mission provided valuable data about the asteroid's surface, composition, and structure, enhancing our understanding of these celestial bodies. The spacecraft successfully landed on Eros in February 2001, where it conducted extensive observations for over a year. NEAR Shoemaker helped scientists learn about the formation of asteroids and their role in the solar system, contributing to ongoing research in planetary science and the potential for future asteroid exploration.