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MESSENGER mission
Article By:
Solomon, Sean C. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC.
McNutt, Ralph L., Jr. Space Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland.
Last reviewed:2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB090085
On January 14, 2008, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft flew by the planet Mercury. No other space probe had visited Mercury since Mariner 10 flew by the innermost planet three times in 1974–1975. All the instruments in MESSENGER's payload operated successfully during the 55-h period centered on closest approach at 201.4 km (125.1 mi) above the planet's surface. About 21% of Mercury's surface (Fig. 1) was imaged at close range for the first time, and observations were made of Mercury's exosphere, magnetosphere, and surface. MESSENGER is scheduled to fly past Mercury two more times (October 2008 and September 2009) before becoming the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury in March 2011.
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