Mercury Missions
Stacy Benjamin
Introduction
- Mercury is the closest planet in our solar system, so it has been one of the hardest planets to explore.
- There has been only 2 missions to Mercury: “Mariner 10” and the other one is “MESSENGER.”
Mariner 10
Mariner 10 flew by Mercury 3 times in 1974 and 1975.
Only 45% of Mercury's surface was mapped.
LAUNCHING OF MESSENGER
- MESSENGER stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging.
- Messenger was launched by NASA on August 3, 2004.
- The spacecraft weighed more than 1000 pounds.
- The MESSENGER has taken more than 250,000 photos, covering the whole planet.
Objectives for MEssenger
To know...
- the composition of Mercury's surface
- the magnetic field around Mercury
- the size and state of the core
- the poles of the planet
- Mercury's outer sphere
INformation collected by messenger
This mission has shown evidence that there is water and ice under permanent shadow.
It gives significant data about characterization of Mercury's magnetic field.
This unique mission has given scientists a chance to discover the dramatic changes in Mercury’s comet-like tail.
They were also able to see pictures of Mercury’s craters and how it was molded by Volcanic Activity.
They had planned to keep collecting data and to continue unrevealing mysteries of Mercury for a whole Earth year, but that lasted for 4 years!
accomplishments of messenger
This mission not only helped scientists to acquire more knowledge about Mercury, it also helped in developing many different technologies. These new technologies will
MESSENGER was the first spacecraft to FULLY ENTER Mercury’s orbit, which gave more detailed information.
Messenger achieved 100% mapping of Mercury.
MESSENGER solved the question if there has been volcanic activity throughout the past years. They also saw all the places where hot lava had been.
The spacecraft found out more about the internal structure of Mercury and found out that Mercury’s core is partially liquid.
Interesting Facts about messeger
The spacecraft flew by Earth once, by Venus twice, and by Mercury thrice and it took 6 1/2 years before it entered the orbit of Mercury.
To reach Mercury, the spacecraft traveled 7.9 billion kilometers (4.9 billion miles)
The spacecraft circles the Sun 15 times in order for it to settle in Mercury’s orbit.
This mission is expected to end today, April 30, 2015!!!
MESSENGER uses special software called SciBox to simulate its orbit and instruments.
MESSENGER
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury Phases
BIbliography
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