1.   A NASA spacecraft ended its yearlong mission orbiting the asteroid Eros Monday by defying the odds and becoming the first man-made instrument to land on such a body.

2.   After a year orbiting the asteroid Eros and completing all its scientific objectives, the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft will end its mission next week, scientists say.

3.   The Galileo already has used the small antenna to send close-up pictures of two asteroids and the first moon ever discovered orbiting an asteroid.

4.   The spacecraft, called Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Shoemaker, has been orbiting the asteroid for more than a year.

5.   With a nudge from its small rockets, the spacecraft NEAR gently embraced the asteroid Eros on Monday to become the first artificial satellite to orbit an asteroid.

6.   A probe to orbit the asteroid Eros is being launched a year from now.

7.   As NEAR approaches Eros, researchers will use cameras and instruments on board to search for any stray bits of rock or gravel that are still orbiting the asteroid.

8.   If successful, NEAR will become the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid.

9.   Not all asteroid moons orbit asteroids.