Unlocking the Mysteries of Planet Mercury (original) (raw)
This website provides access to the wealth of MESSENGER mission news and data. Though accurate at the time of publication, it is no longer being updated. For the latest on Johns Hopkins APL space missions, visit civspace.jhuapl.edu.
Unlocking the Mysteries
of Planet Mercury
This website provides access to the wealth of MESSENGER mission news and data. Though accurate at the time of publication, it is no longer being updated. For the latest on Johns Hopkins APL space missions, visit civspace.jhuapl.edu.
Top 10 Science Results and Technology Innovations
After more than 10 years in operation, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft impacted the surface of Mercury on April 30, 2015, at a speed of more than 3.91 kilometers per second (8,750 miles per hour), marking the end of operations for the hugely successful Mercury orbiter. At the MESSENGER Nears End of Operations media and public event, scientists and engineers discussed the mission’s accomplishments, providing the top 10 scientific discoveries, as well as the technological innovations that grew out of the mission.
- No. 1: Volatile-Rich Planet
- No. 2: Polar Deposits
- No. 3: Offset Magnetic Field
- No. 4: Hollows
- No. 5: Volcanic Deposits
- No. 6: Global Contraction
- No. 7: Seasonal Exosphere
- No. 8: Dynamic Magnetosphere
- No. 9: Energetic Electrons
- No. 10: Field-Aligned Currents
- No. 1: “Hovering”
- No. 2: Beyond the Last Drop
- No. 3: It Takes a Village
- No. 4: Fire Sail
- No. 5: SciBox
- No. 6: No Side Dishes
- No. 7: Harnessing the Power
- No. 8: Sun Screen
- No. 9: Economy of Space
- No. 10: First Mercury Orbiter
About
A NASA Discovery mission that conducted the first orbital study of our solar system's innermost planet
The Mission to Mercury
To address key science questions about Mercury's formation and evolution, MESSENGER journeyed through the inner solar system and became the first spacecraft ever to orbit Mercury.
Why Mercury | Mission Timeline | Mission Design
Spacecraft and Instruments
Learn about the details of the spacecraft and find details about MESSENGER's science payload, which included seven scientific instruments and a radio science experiment.
View all Spacecraft and Instruments
Team
The MESSENGER Team is composed of many different individuals with a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. Scientists and engineers from across the country are involved in all aspects of the mission.
Learn more about the MESSENGER team
Explore
Explore maps, videos, images, and more that reveal Mercury's secrets and the discoveries of the MESSENGER mission
Learn
How did we get to Mercury? What were the challenges and triumphs? What did we discover? Learn more with these engaging materials for inside and outside of the classroom.
Resources
Publications
See a bibliography of publications by project team members about the MESSENGER mission and related Mercury science, dating back to when NASA first selected the MESSENGER mission in 1999.