MESSENGER reveals more of Mercury
Posted: Wed, Nov 4, 2009, 7:52 AM ET (1252 GMT)
Scientists released Tuesday images and other data collected by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft as it flew past Mercury in September. Only some of the planned data for the flyby, the third by MESSENGER, was collected when the spacecraft entered safe mode near closest approach. However, scientists were able to see additional regions of the planet not previously observed, brining the total surface area of the planet imaged by MESSENGER and a 1970s-era mission, Mariner 10, to 98 percent. MESSENGER also studied the planet's thin atmosphere and the elemental composition of the surface, finding higher concentrations of iron and titanium than previously expected. The three MESSENGER flybys set up the spacecraft to go into orbit around the planet in early 2011.
Scientists released Tuesday images and other data collected by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft as it flew past Mercury in September. Only some of the planned data for the flyby, the third by MESSENGER, was collected when the spacecraft entered safe mode near closest approach. However, scientists were able to see additional regions of the planet not previously observed, brining the total surface area of the planet imaged by MESSENGER and a 1970s-era mission, Mariner 10, to 98 percent. MESSENGER also studied the planet's thin atmosphere and the elemental composition of the surface, finding higher concentrations of iron and titanium than previously expected. The three MESSENGER flybys set up the spacecraft to go into orbit around the planet in early 2011.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, October 16
Bad news about Starlink launch in South Africa
MyBroadband — 8:04 am ET (1204 GMT) Are Falling Starlink Satellites Really Poisoning the Stratosphere?
The National Interest — 8:03 am ET (1203 GMT) Army to prioritize counterspace tech in future budget requests
Defensescoop — 8:00 am ET (1200 GMT) Federal workers at Colorado military base work unpaid amid government shutdown 'stalemate'
KUSA-TV Denver — 8:00 am ET (1200 GMT) KBR Secures $98.7 Million Space Force Contract to Advance Digital Engineering Ecosystem
GlobeNewswire — 7:58 am ET (1158 GMT) |
