\n\tMESSENGER (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.
\n
\n\tIt 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.
\n
\n\tThis artist’s rendition depicts MESSENGER’s ceramic cloth sunshade that protects the exterior instruments.
\n
\n\tImage credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, courtesy of NASA
\n
\n\tAlso check out the CNET News.com gallery Messenger from Earth reaches Mercury’s orbit.
\n\tMESSENGER attached to the Delta II Payload Assist Module.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tMESSENGER on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tMESSENGER during building, before encapsulation.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tAn image taken in 2009 by MESSENGER of Mercury’s craters, which are considerably smooth inside.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tAugust 3, 2004 MESSENGER launch.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tThe south pole of Mercury, image taken by the Mariner 10 in 1974.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tMercury’s Brahms Crater is 98 kilometers in diameter. Image taken by Mariner 10 in 1974.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tThis image is a computer photomosaic of Mercury’s Beethoven Quadrangle. Images taken by Mariner 10 in 1974.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tMercury’s surface is desert-like and covered with craters.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tMany of Mercury’s craters have double rings.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tThe bright rays in this image, taken by Mariner 10, are the result of ejecta from a new crater.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
\n\tThis computer photomosiac shows Mercury’s Caloris Basin.
\n
\n\tImage credit: NASA
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 conducting science experiments at home. Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Transylvania University, and has experience in copywriting for education, print, business, and the web. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter via @HuTerra.
