MESSENGER mission to collect new data about Mercury

By nicolebremernash March 23, 2011, 7:39 AM PDT

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MESSENGER mission to collect new data about Mercury

MESSENGER’s ceramic cloth sunshade

ntMESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) pulled into orbit around Mercury on March 17, 2011. It has taken the space probe six years to go from Earth to Mercury, while maneuvering around Venus. MESSENGER is hopefully going to answer many questions about the planet, including better images that will provide information about the surface; what Mercury’s core is made of (the currently popular hypothesis is iron); and more information about Mercury’s magnetic field.

ntIt has taken years to get MESSENGER ready to build on what we already know about Mercury. From building the probe, to analyzing old images of Mercury taken by the Mariner space probe, studying Mercury has been one of NASA’s biggest ongoing projects. One way to follow the space probe’s progress is by checking the MESSENGER Twitter feed.

ntThis artist’s rendition depicts MESSENGER’s ceramic cloth sunshade that protects the exterior instruments.

ntImage credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, courtesy of NASA

ntAlso check out the CNET News.com gallery Messenger from Earth reaches Mercury’s orbit.

MESSENGER attached to the Delta II Payload Assist Module

ntMESSENGER attached to the Delta II Payload Assist Module.

ntImage credit: NASA

MESSENGER on the launch pad

ntMESSENGER on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.

ntImage credit: NASA

MESSENGER during building process

ntMESSENGER during building, before encapsulation.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury's craters

ntAn image taken in 2009 by MESSENGER of Mercury’s craters, which are considerably smooth inside.

ntImage credit: NASA

MESSENGER launch

ntAugust 3, 2004 MESSENGER launch.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury image

ntImage of Mercury taken by the Mariner 10 in 1974.

ntImage credit: NASA

South pole of Mercury

ntThe south pole of Mercury, image taken by the Mariner 10 in 1974.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury’s Brahms Crater

ntMercury’s Brahms Crater is 98 kilometers in diameter. Image taken by Mariner 10 in 1974.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury’s Beethoven Quadrangle

ntThis image is a computer photomosaic of Mercury’s Beethoven Quadrangle. Images taken by Mariner 10 in 1974.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury’s surface

ntMercury’s surface is desert-like and covered with craters.

ntImage credit: NASA

Craters on Mercury with double rings

ntMany of Mercury’s craters have double rings.

ntImage credit: NASA

Ejecta from a new crater on Mercury

ntThe bright rays in this image, taken by Mariner 10, are the result of ejecta from a new crater.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury’s Caloris Basin

ntThis computer photomosiac shows Mercury’s Caloris Basin.

ntImage credit: NASA

Mercury passing in front of the sun

ntLook carefully at this photo of the sun. The small black dot is Mercury, passing in front of the sun on May 7, 2003. Images of this rare event were captured by both the SOHO and TRACE spacecrafts.

ntImage credit: NASA

By nicolebremernash

Nicole Bremer Nash is Director of Content and Social Media for HuTerra, where she uses SEO and social media to promote charitable organizations in their community-building and fundraising efforts. She enjoys volunteering, arts and crafts, and conduct

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