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Astronomy: Messenger
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Messenger stands short for Mercury Surface Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging and was launched on 3 August 2004. The spacecraft will pass Earth and Venus twice before reaching its destination Mercury. After passing Mercury three times it will enter fixed orbit in 2011. By then it has covered a 7.9 billion kilometres long journey. At an altitude of 300 km above Mercury's surface it will mainly map and study the surface. Astronomers are curious if ice is present at the pole regions. But the craters and other erosion are also interesting. Mariner 10 mapped 45 percent of the surface in 1974 and 1975. Related subjects>> Mercury>> Mariner |
 Messenger is launched with a Delta II rocket. |
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