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mmcirvinThe MESSENGER Mercury probe swings past Earth, and takes color pictures and a beautiful movie on the outbound leg.
MESSENGER will encounter Venus on further gravity-assist flybys in 2006 and 2007, map most of Mercury on three flybys in 2008 and 2009, and finally enter Mercury orbit in 2011. Currently only half of Mercury has been photographed in any detail, by Mariner 10, which flew past the planet in 1974 and 1975. Mercury is not far from Earth as solar-system distances go, but in terms of fuel expenditure it's very hard to get to (being so far down in the Sun's gravity well), and this long series of encounters is designed to help matters.
MESSENGER will encounter Venus on further gravity-assist flybys in 2006 and 2007, map most of Mercury on three flybys in 2008 and 2009, and finally enter Mercury orbit in 2011. Currently only half of Mercury has been photographed in any detail, by Mariner 10, which flew past the planet in 1974 and 1975. Mercury is not far from Earth as solar-system distances go, but in terms of fuel expenditure it's very hard to get to (being so far down in the Sun's gravity well), and this long series of encounters is designed to help matters.
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Date: 2005-08-30 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-31 08:39 pm (UTC)