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Messenger primed for Mercury pass Messenger primed for Mercury pass
(about 4 hours later)
The first spacecraft to visit Mercury in more than 30 years passes the planet on Monday at a distance of just 200km.The first spacecraft to visit Mercury in more than 30 years passes the planet on Monday at a distance of just 200km.
The fly-by is the first of three the Messenger probe will make in the coming years as it slows itself to enter into orbit around the small world in 2011.The fly-by is the first of three the Messenger probe will make in the coming years as it slows itself to enter into orbit around the small world in 2011.
The US spacecraft will collect more than 1,300 images and make other observations during the encounter.The US spacecraft will collect more than 1,300 images and make other observations during the encounter.
No probe has viewed Mercury up close since the Mariner 10 mission's third and final fly-by in March 1975.No probe has viewed Mercury up close since the Mariner 10 mission's third and final fly-by in March 1975.
"[Messenger] is lined up and ready to go; the team is ready and really pumped," said Marilyn Lindstrom, the US space agency (Nasa) mission's programme scientist."[Messenger] is lined up and ready to go; the team is ready and really pumped," said Marilyn Lindstrom, the US space agency (Nasa) mission's programme scientist.
"Mercury, here comes Messenger!""Mercury, here comes Messenger!"
The researcher said the entire planetary science community was impatient to get back to the nearest planet to the Sun.The researcher said the entire planetary science community was impatient to get back to the nearest planet to the Sun.
The moment of closest approach is 1404 EST (1904 GMT).The moment of closest approach is 1404 EST (1904 GMT).
'Lap times''Lap times'
Lindstrom added: "[Messenger's] goal is to understand the surface, the interior, the magnetosphere and the atmosphere of this innermost planet; but in the process of doing that we hope to apply that [knowledge] to understand how all four of the terrestrial, Earth-like, planets formed."Lindstrom added: "[Messenger's] goal is to understand the surface, the interior, the magnetosphere and the atmosphere of this innermost planet; but in the process of doing that we hope to apply that [knowledge] to understand how all four of the terrestrial, Earth-like, planets formed."
Messenger is half-way through what will be a seven-year tour of the inner Solar System.Messenger is half-way through what will be a seven-year tour of the inner Solar System.
Messenger is closing on its quarryIt is not due in orbit around Mercury until the March of 2011. To get there, it must perform a series of fly-bys and engine firings to put it on a correct course and, crucially, slow its final approach.Messenger is closing on its quarryIt is not due in orbit around Mercury until the March of 2011. To get there, it must perform a series of fly-bys and engine firings to put it on a correct course and, crucially, slow its final approach.
This week's pass, which takes place some 53 million km (33 million miles) from the Sun, will reduce the spacecraft's velocity by 8,000km/h (5,000mph). Even so, it will still pass over the cratered surface at a relative speed of 25,000km/h (16,000mph).This week's pass, which takes place some 53 million km (33 million miles) from the Sun, will reduce the spacecraft's velocity by 8,000km/h (5,000mph). Even so, it will still pass over the cratered surface at a relative speed of 25,000km/h (16,000mph).
"Messenger's orbital period around the Sun will be decreased by 11 days thus setting up a planetary car race with Mercury," explained Eric Finnegan, mission systems engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory."Messenger's orbital period around the Sun will be decreased by 11 days thus setting up a planetary car race with Mercury," explained Eric Finnegan, mission systems engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
"Using its engine and future gravity assists, the spacecraft after being lapped by Mercury many times in its race around the Sun will eventually match the 88-day orbital period of the innermost planet.""Using its engine and future gravity assists, the spacecraft after being lapped by Mercury many times in its race around the Sun will eventually match the 88-day orbital period of the innermost planet."
Strange worldStrange world
Messenger has already begun its fly-by observations. The probe's instruments are expected to gather about 700GB of data in total over a period of 55 hours.Messenger has already begun its fly-by observations. The probe's instruments are expected to gather about 700GB of data in total over a period of 55 hours.
The final look will be on Tuesday at about midday EST (1700GMT), after which the probe will turn its communications equipment towards Earth to download the data treasure.The final look will be on Tuesday at about midday EST (1700GMT), after which the probe will turn its communications equipment towards Earth to download the data treasure.
THE PLANET MERCURY Closest planet to the SunDiameter: 4,800kmMercurian year: 88 daysHas global magnetic fieldTHE PLANET MERCURY Closest planet to the SunDiameter: 4,800kmMercurian year: 88 daysHas global magnetic field
Messenger is operating in an extremely harsh environment.Messenger is operating in an extremely harsh environment.
Its electronics and observational instruments are protected behind a shield that allows them to operate at "room temperature". The Sun-facing side of he shield, however, experiences temperatures in excess of 300C.Its electronics and observational instruments are protected behind a shield that allows them to operate at "room temperature". The Sun-facing side of he shield, however, experiences temperatures in excess of 300C.
All the terrestrial planets are believed to have formed at the same time by common processes - but Mercury itself is a bit of an oddball.All the terrestrial planets are believed to have formed at the same time by common processes - but Mercury itself is a bit of an oddball.
It is so dense that more than two-thirds of it has to be of an iron-metal composition.It is so dense that more than two-thirds of it has to be of an iron-metal composition.
It so close to the Sun that the temperature variation between day and night at the equator is 1,100 degrees; and yet there may be water-ice at the poles in craters that are in permanent shadow. It so close to the Sun that the temperature variation between day and night at the equator is more than 600 degrees; and yet there may be water-ice at the poles in craters that are in permanent shadow.
Europeans to followEuropeans to follow
"Mariner 10 showed us a surface that was so heavily cratered that it looked like geological activity on Mercury ended very early in the history of the Solar System," said Sean Solomon, Messenger's principal investigator from the Carnegie Institution of Washington."Mariner 10 showed us a surface that was so heavily cratered that it looked like geological activity on Mercury ended very early in the history of the Solar System," said Sean Solomon, Messenger's principal investigator from the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
"And yet, Mercury is the only other inner planet that like Earth has a magnetic field which we believe means it must have a very dynamic molten iron core."And yet, Mercury is the only other inner planet that like Earth has a magnetic field which we believe means it must have a very dynamic molten iron core.
"So how to reconcile this ancient surface with this modern-day internal dynamic activity is one of the mysteries we hope to solve.""So how to reconcile this ancient surface with this modern-day internal dynamic activity is one of the mysteries we hope to solve."
Messenger's first fly-by will:
  • obtain the first detailed view of the hemisphere of the planet missed by Mariner 10 (it only saw 45% of the planet's surface)
  • make the first measurements of the elemental composition of Mercury's surface
  • use a laser altimeter to study the shape and topography of the planet
  • take gravity measurements to try to understand better Mercury's internal structure
Messenger's first fly-by will:
  • obtain the first detailed view of the hemisphere of the planet missed by Mariner 10 (it only saw 45% of the planet's surface)
  • make the first measurements of the elemental composition of Mercury's surface
  • use a laser altimeter to study the shape and topography of the planet
  • take gravity measurements to try to understand better Mercury's internal structure
On Friday this week, the European Space Agency (Esa) will sign an industrial contract with EADS Astrium to build BepiColombo.On Friday this week, the European Space Agency (Esa) will sign an industrial contract with EADS Astrium to build BepiColombo.
This mission will be launched to Mercury 2013. It consists of two spacecraft - an orbiter for planetary investigation, led by Esa, and one for magnetospheric studies, led by the Jaxa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).This mission will be launched to Mercury 2013. It consists of two spacecraft - an orbiter for planetary investigation, led by Esa, and one for magnetospheric studies, led by the Jaxa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
The satellite duo will reach Mercury in 2019 after a six-year journey towards the inner Solar System.The satellite duo will reach Mercury in 2019 after a six-year journey towards the inner Solar System.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk