位于休斯敦的美国航空航天局(NASA)2月12日下午宣布,无人探测器“鞋匠尼尔”(NEAR Shoemaker)号(又称“近地小行星约会”)成功降落到“爱神”(Eros)小行星上,并向地球发回了信号。它标志着人类有史以来第一次完成了将人造飞行器送上小行星的壮举。这一太空奇迹正好发生在西方的“情人节”(2月14日)前夕,西方媒体称之为“‘鞋匠’亲吻‘爱神’”。 NASA, Houston, on the afternoon of February 12, announced the successful launch of the unmanned NEAR Shoemaker, known as “Near-Earth Asteroid Date,” to Eros Eros) asteroid and send a signal back to Earth. It marks the first time humans have completed the feat of sending artificial airplanes to asteroids. This space miracle happened right on the eve of the West’s “Valentine’s Day” (February 14), which the western media called “shoemaker’s kissing” Eros. "