The NASA Messenger probe has passed by Mercury for the first of three flybys before it’s orbital insertion in 2011. While major scientific study of Mercury will begin after orbital insertion, the spacecraft did send back a lovely picture to whet our appetites.
Messenger stands for “MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging” (bet you wish you hadn’t asked). It is the first spacecraft to visit Mercury since Mariner 10 in 1975. Messenger’s instrument suite greatly surpasses Mariner’s and will allow for the imaging of the entire planet down to 60ft resolution.
Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington
Tags: flyby, mercury, messenger, nasa
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