MESSENGER enters Mercury orbit
Posted: Fri, Mar 18, 2011, 7:43 AM ET (1143 GMT)
NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft successfully entered orbit around the planet Mercury Thursday evening, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the innermost planet. The spacecraft fired its main engine for approximately 15 minutes at 8:45 pm EDT Thursday (0045 GMT Friday), slowing the spacecraft down enough to go into orbit. Controllers received confirmation that the spacecraft had entered an elliptical orbit as planned an hour later. MESSENGER, which stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, launched in 2004 and performed three flybys of Mercury in 2008 and 2009 before going into orbit. Science operations are scheduled to begin early next month and continue for at least a year.
NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft successfully entered orbit around the planet Mercury Thursday evening, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the innermost planet. The spacecraft fired its main engine for approximately 15 minutes at 8:45 pm EDT Thursday (0045 GMT Friday), slowing the spacecraft down enough to go into orbit. Controllers received confirmation that the spacecraft had entered an elliptical orbit as planned an hour later. MESSENGER, which stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, launched in 2004 and performed three flybys of Mercury in 2008 and 2009 before going into orbit. Science operations are scheduled to begin early next month and continue for at least a year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, September 22
Galileo achieves first civil authenticated position fix under spoofing conditions
GPS World — 6:37 am ET (1037 GMT) Will Russia have its own Starlink?
Deutsche Welle — 6:37 am ET (1037 GMT) There’s a Space Weapon Circling the Planet. Here's What We Know.
National Geographic — 6:35 am ET (1035 GMT) Gov. Mike DeWine assembles team to make Ohio’s case for U.S. Space Academy
Cleveland Plain Dealer — 6:33 am ET (1033 GMT) Moreno Leads Ohio’s Push to Bring Space Force Academy to Ohio
US Senate — 6:33 am ET (1033 GMT) |
