The Mariner
Mariner-10 1974
The first spacecraft to visit and orbit Mercury, found it did have a magnetic field, which before was assumed small because scientists though that its core had cooled. Only mission to Mercury until the later mission MESSENGER. It was also the first craft to use another plaets gravity to "swing" to Mercury. It also took picture of Venus on its way to Mercury.
The first spacecraft to visit and orbit Mercury, found it did have a magnetic field, which before was assumed small because scientists though that its core had cooled. Only mission to Mercury until the later mission MESSENGER. It was also the first craft to use another plaets gravity to "swing" to Mercury. It also took picture of Venus on its way to Mercury.
The MESSENGER
MESSENGER-entered orbit in 2011
The MESSENGER-101 discovered that Mercury's core consists of 85% of the planet, and that Mercury's core is not cooled.
The MESSENGER-101 discovered that Mercury's core consists of 85% of the planet, and that Mercury's core is not cooled.
Flight
The MESSENGER took six years to orbit Mercury. It had to do 6 gravity-assist fly-by's of planets before finally orbiting Mercury. MESSENGER flew by Earth once, Venus twice and Mercury three times.
The MESSENGER took six years to orbit Mercury. It had to do 6 gravity-assist fly-by's of planets before finally orbiting Mercury. MESSENGER flew by Earth once, Venus twice and Mercury three times.
Interesting Fact-when MESSENGER entered Mercury's orbit it was 446 Million dollars over budget.