MESSENGER

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This article is about the NASA space mission. For other uses, see Messenger.
MESSENGER
MESSENGER.jpg
Artist's rendering of MESSENGER orbiting Mercury.
Operator NASA / APL
Major contractors APL
Mission type Flyby / Orbiter
Launch date August 3, 2004 06:15:56 UTC
(8 years, 9 months, and 15 days ago)
Launch vehicle Delta II 7925H-9.5
Launch site Space Launch Complex 17B
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Mission duration (began April 4, 2011)
 Earth flyby
 (completed August 2, 2005)
 Venus flyby 1
 (completed 2006-10-24)
 Venus flyby 2
 (completed June 5, 2007)
 Mercury flyby 1
 (completed January 14, 2008)
 Mercury flyby 2
 (completed October 6, 2008)
 Mercury flyby 3
 (completed September 29, 2009)
 Mercury orbit insertion
 (completed March 18, 2011)
Mission extended through March 2013[1]
Flyby of Earth, Venus, Mercury
Satellite of Mercury
Orbital insertion date March 18, 2011 01:00 UTC[2]
COSPAR ID 2004-030A
Homepage JHU/APL website
Mass 485 kg (1,070 lb)
Power 450 W (Solar array / 11 NiH2 batteries)

MESSENGER (an acronym of MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) (also the name of the Roman god it is named after) is a robotic NASA spacecraft orbiting the planet Mercury, the first spacecraft ever to do so.[3] The 485-kilogram (1,070 lb) spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta II rocket in August 2004 to study Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. It became the second mission after 1975's Mariner 10 (launched by NASA on November 3, 1973) to reach Mercury successfully when it made a flyby in January 2008, followed by a second flyby in October 2008,[4] and a third flyby in September 2009.[5][6]

The instruments carried by MESSENGER were tested on a complex series of flybys – the spacecraft flew by Earth once, Venus twice, and Mercury itself three times, allowing it to decelerate relative to Mercury using minimal fuel. MESSENGER successfully entered Mercury's orbit on March 18, 2011, and reactivated its science instruments on March 24, returning the first photo from Mercury orbit on March 29. MESSENGER's formal data collection mission began on April 4, 2011. On March 17, 2012, having collected close to 100,000 images, MESSENGER ended its one-year primary mission and entered an extended mission scheduled to last until March 2013.[7]

During its stay in Mercury orbit, MESSENGER's instruments have yielded significant data, including a characterization of Mercury's magnetic field[8] and the discovery of water ice at the planet's north pole.[9]

Contents

Mission background [edit]

Previous missions [edit]

In 1973, Mariner 10 was launched to make multiple flyby encounters of Venus and Mercury. Mariner 10 provided the first detailed data of Mercury, mapping 40-45% of the surface.[10] The final flyby of Mercury by Mariner 10 occurred on March 16, 1975, ending close-range observations of the planet for over 30 years.

Proposals for the mission [edit]

In 1998, a study detailed a proposed mission to send an orbiting spacecraft to Mercury, as the planet was at that point the least-explored of the inner planets. In the years following the Mariner 10 mission, subsequent mission proposals to revisit Mercury had appeared too costly, requiring large quantities of propellant and a heavy lift launch vehicle. Moreover, inserting a spacecraft into orbit around Mercury is difficult, because a probe approaching on a direct path from Earth would be accelerated by the Sun's gravity and pass Mercury far too quickly to orbit it. However, using a trajectory designed by Chen-wan Yen in 1985, the study showed it was possible to seek a Discovery-class mission by using multiple, consecutive gravity assist, 'swingby' maneuvers around Venus and Mercury, in combination with minor propulsive trajectory corrections, to gradually slow the spacecraft and thereby minimize propellant needs.[11]

Mission objectives [edit]

The mission's primary science objectives included:[citation needed]

  • accurately determining the surface composition of Mercury
  • characterizing the geological history of the planet
  • determining the precise strength of the magnetic field and its variation with position and altitude
  • investigating the presence of a liquid outer core by measuring Mercury's libration
  • determining the nature of the radar reflective materials at Mercury’s poles
  • investigating the important volatile species and their sources and sinks on and near Mercury.

The spacecraft was designed and built at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Science operations, managed by Dr. Sean Solomon as principal investigator, and mission operations are also conducted at JHU/APL.[12]

Spacecraft design [edit]

The MESSENGER bus measures 1.85 meters (73 in) tall, 1.42 m (56 in) wide, and 1.27 m (50 in) deep. The bus is primarily constructed with four graphite fiber / cyanate ester composite panels that support the propellant tanks, the large velocity adjust (LVA) thruster, attitude monitors and correction thrusters, the antennas, the instrument pallet, and a large ceramic-cloth sunshade, measuring 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and 2 m (6.6 ft) wide, for passive thermal control.[12] MESSENGER's total mission cost, including the cost of the spacecraft's construction, was estimated at under US$450 million.[13]

Attitude control and propulsion [edit]

Main propulsion is via the 645 N, 317 sec.Isp bipropellant (hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide) large velocity assist (LVA) thruster. The model used is the LEROS 1, developed and manufactured at AMPAC‐ISP’s Westcott facility, in the United Kingdom. The spacecraft is designed to carry 607.8 kilograms (1,340 lb) of propellant and pressurizer (helium).[12]

Four 22 N (4.9 lbf) monopropellant thrusters provide spacecraft steering during main thruster burns, and ten 4 N (0.9 lbf) monopropellant thrusters are used for attitude control. For precision attitude control, a reaction wheel attitude control system was also included.[12] Information for attitude control is provided by star trackers, an inertial measurement unit and six sun sensors.[12]

Communications [edit]

The probe includes two small deep space transponders for communications with the Deep Space Network and three kinds of antennas: a high gain phased array whose main beam can be electronically steered in one plane, a medium-gain “fan-beam” antenna and a low gain horn with a broad pattern. The high gain antenna is used as transmit-only at 8.4 GHz, the medium-gain and low gain antennas transmit at 8.4 GHz and receive at 7.2 GHz, and all three antennas operate with right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) radiation. One of each of these antennas is mounted on the front of the probe facing the sun, and one of each is mounted to the back of the probe facing away from the sun.[14]

Power [edit]

The space probe is powered by a two-panel, gallium arsenide/germanium (GaAs/Ge) solar array providing an average of 450 watts at Mercury. Each panel is rotatable and includes optical solar reflectors to balance the temperature of the array. Power is stored in a common-pressure-vessel, 23-ampere-hour nickel hydrogen battery, with 11 vessels and two cells per vessel.[12]

Mission computer and software [edit]

The spacecraft's onboard computer system is contained in an Integrated Electronics Module (IEM), a device that combines core avionics into a single box. The computer features two radiation-hardened IBM RAD6000, a 25 megahertz main processor, and a 10 MHz fault protection processor. For redundancy, the spacecraft carries a pair of identical IEMs. For data storage, the spacecraft carries two solid-state recorders able to store up to one gigabyte each. The IBM RAD6000 main processor collects, compresses, and stores data from MESSENGER's instruments for later playback to Earth.[12]

MESSENGER uses a software suite called SciBox to simulate its orbit and instruments, in order to "choreograph the complicated process of maximizing the scientific return from the mission and minimizing conflicts between instrument observations, while at the same time meeting all spacecraft constraints on pointing, data downlink rates, and onboard data storage capacity."[15]

Scientific instruments [edit]

Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
MESSENGER - MDIS.jpg Includes two CCD cameras, a narrow-angle camera (NAC) and a wide-angle camera (WAC) mounted to a pivoting platform. The camera system provides a complete map of the surface of Mercury at a resolution of 250 meters/pixel, and images of regions of geologic interest at 20–50 meters/pixel. Color imaging is possible only with the narrow-band filter wheel attached to the wide-angle camera.[16][17]
Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS)
MESSENGER - GRS - GRNS.jpg Measures gamma-ray emissions from the surface of Mercury to determine the composition by detecting certain elements (oxygen, silicon, sulphur, iron, hydrogen, potassium, thorium, uranium) to a depth of 10 cm.[19][20]
Neutron Spectrometer (NS)
MESSENGER - NS.jpg Determines the hydrogen mineral composition to a depth of 40 cm by detecting low-energy neutrons that result from the collision of cosmic rays and the minerals.[19][20]
X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS)
MESSENGER - XRS.jpg Maps mineral composition within the top millimeter of the surface on Mercury by detecting X-ray spectral lines from magnesium, aluminum, sulphur, calcium, titanium, and iron, in the 1-10 keV range.[21][22]
Magnetometer (MAG)
MESSENGER - MAG.jpg Measures the magnetic field around Mercury in detail to determine the strength and average position of the field.[23][24]
Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA)
MESSEBGER - MLA.jpg Provides detailed information regarding the height of landforms on the surface of Mercury by detecting the light of an infrared laser as the light bounces off the surface. [25][26]
Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS)
MESSENGER - MASCS.jpg
 Determines the characteristics of the tenuous atmosphere surrounding Mercury by measuring ultraviolet light emissions and the prevalence of iron and titanium minerals on the surface by measuring the reflectance of infrared light.[27][28]
Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS)
MESSENGER - EPPS.jpg
 Measures the charged particles in the magnetosphere around Mercury using an Energetic Particle Spectrometer (EPS) and the charged particles that come from the surface using a Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (FIPS).[29][30]
Radio Science (RS)
Measures the gravity of Mercury and the state of the planetary core by utilizing the spacecraft positioning data.[26][31]
Images of the spacecraft
Diagram of MESSENGER
Diagram of MESSENGER. 
MESSENGER assembly installation of solar panels Astrotech
The assembly of MESSENGER's solar panels by Astrotech technicians. 
Technicians prepare MESSENGER for transfer to a hazardous processing facility
Technicians prepare MESSENGER for transfer to a hazardous processing facility. 
Attachment of the Payload Assist Module to MESSENGER. The ceramic-cloth sunshade is prominent in this view
Attachment of the PAM to MESSENGER. The ceramic-cloth sunshade is prominent in this view. 

Mission profile [edit]

Timeline of observations[32][33][34][35][36]
Date Event
2004-08-03
Spacecraft launched at 06:15:56 UTC
2005-08-02
2006-10-24
2008-01-14
2011-03-18
Mercury orbital insertion
2012-03-17
Commencement of extended mission

Launch and trajectory [edit]

The MESSENGER probe was launched on August 3, 2004 at 06:15:56 UTC by NASA from Space Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, aboard a Delta II 7925 launch vehicle. The complete burn sequence lasted 57 minutes bringing the spacecraft into a heliocentric orbit, with a final velocity of 10.68 km/s (6.64 miles/s) and sending the probe into a 7.9 billion-kilometer trajectory that took 6 years, 7 months and 16 days before its orbital insertion on March 18, 2011.[12]

Traveling to Mercury requires an extremely large velocity change (see delta-v) because Mercury's orbit is deep in the Sun's gravity well. On a direct course from Earth to Mercury, a spacecraft is constantly accelerated as it falls toward the Sun, and will arrive at Mercury with a velocity too high to achieve orbit without excessive use of fuel. For planets with an atmosphere, such as Venus and Mars, spacecraft can minimize their fuel consumption upon arrival by using friction with the atmosphere to enter orbit (aerocapture), or can briefly fire their rocket engines to enter into orbit followed by a reduction of the orbit by aerobraking. However, the tenuous atmosphere of Mercury is far too thin for these maneuvers. Instead, MESSENGER extensively used gravity assist maneuvers at Earth, Venus, and Mercury to reduce the speed relative to Mercury, then used its large rocket engine to enter into an elliptical orbit around the planet. The multi-flyby process greatly reduced the amount of propellant necessary to slow the spacecraft, but at the cost of prolonging the trip by many years and to a total distance of 4.9 billion miles. To further minimize the amount of necessary propellant, the spacecraft orbital insertion targeted a highly elliptical orbit around Mercury.

The elongated orbit has two other benefits: It allows the spacecraft time to cool after the times it is sandwiched between the hot surface and the sun, and it allows the spacecraft to measure the effects of solar wind and the magnetic fields of the planet at various distances, while still allowing close-up measurements and photographs of the surface and exosphere.

Exploded launch configuration diagram with MESSENGER and Delta 2 rocket
Exploded diagram of Delta II launch vehicle with MESSENGER 
The launch of MESSENGER on a Delta II launch vehicle
The launch of MESSENGER on a Delta II launch vehicle. 
Interplanetary trajectory of MESSENGER orbiter
Interplanetary trajectory of the MESSENGER orbiter. 

Encounter with Earth [edit]

Main article: Earth observation satellite

MESSENGER performed a successful Earth flyby a year after launch, on August 2, 2005, with the closest approach at 19:13 UTC at an altitude of 2,347 kilometers (1,458 statute miles) over central Mongolia. On December 12, 2005, a 524 second-long burn (Deep-Space Maneuver or DSM-1) of the large thruster adjusted the trajectory for the upcoming Venus flyby.[37]

During the Earth flyby, the MESSENGER team imaged the Earth and Moon using MDIS and checked the status of several other instruments observing the atmospheric and surface compositions and testing the magnetosphere and determining that all instruments tested were working as expected. This calibration period will be useful for ensuring accurate interpretation of data as the spacecraft orbits Mercury.[38]

A view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby
A view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby. 
Another view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby
A view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby. 
The Earth and Moon captured by the MESSENGER Wide Angle Camera from a distance of 183 million kilometers
The Earth and Moon (lower left), captured by MESSENGER from a distance of 183 million kilometers. 
Earth flyby sequence captured on August 3, 2005. Full-size video available here. 

Encounter with Venus [edit]

Main article: Exploration of Venus

On October 24, 2006 at 08:34 UTC, MESSENGER encountered Venus at an altitude of 2,992 kilometers (1,859 mi). During the encounter, MESSENGER passed behind Venus and entered superior conjunction, a period when Earth was on the exact opposite side of the solar system, with the Sun inhibiting radio contact. For this reason, no scientific observations were conducted during the flyby. Communication with the spacecraft was reestablished in late November and performed a deep space maneuver on December 12, to correct the trajectory to encounter Venus in a second flyby.[39]

On June 5, 2007, at 23:08 UTC, MESSENGER performed a second flyby of Venus at an altitude of 338 km (210 mi), for the greatest velocity reduction of the mission. During the encounter, all instruments were used to observe Venus and prepare for the following Mercury encounters. The encounter provided visible and near-infrared imaging data of the upper atmosphere of Venus. Ultraviolet and X-ray spectrometry of the upper atmosphere were also recorded, to characterize the composition. The ESA's Venus Express was also orbiting during the encounter, providing the first opportunity for simultaneous measurement of particle-and-field characteristics of the planet.[40]

Venus Imaged by MESSENGER on the first flyby of the planet
Venus imaged by MESSENGER on its first flyby of the planet in 2006. 
Venus imaged by MESSENGER on the second flyby of the planet
Venus imaged by MESSENGER on its second flyby of the planet in 2007. 
A more detailed image of Venus by MESSENGER on the second flyby of the planet
A more detailed image of Venus MESSENGER on the second flyby of the planet. 
Sequence of images as MESSENGER departs after the second flyby of the planet
Sequence of images as MESSENGER departs after the second flyby of the planet. 

Encounter with Mercury [edit]

Main article: Exploration of Mercury

MESSENGER made a flyby of Mercury on January 14, 2008 (closest approach 200 km above surface of Mercury at 19:04:39 UTC), followed by a second flyby on October 6, 2008.[4] MESSENGER executed a final flyby on September 29, 2009, that further slowed down the spacecraft.[5][6] Sometime during the closest approach of the last flyby, the spacecraft entered safe mode. Although this had no effect on the trajectory necessary for later orbit insertion, it resulted in the loss of science data and images that were planned for the outbound leg of the fly-by. The spacecraft had fully recovered by about 7 hours later.[41] One last deep space maneuver, DSM-5 was executed on November 24, 2009 at 22:45 UTC to provide the required velocity change for the scheduled Mercury orbit insertion on March 18, 2011, marking the beginning of a year-long orbital mission.[42]

Initial discoveries [edit]

On July 3, 2008, MESSENGER team member Thomas Zurbuchen announced that the probe had discovered large amounts of water present in Mercury's exosphere, which was an unexpected finding.[43] MESSENGER also provided visual evidence of past volcanic activity on the surface of Mercury, as well as evidence for a liquid planetary core.[43]

The first high-resolution color Wide Angle Camera image of Mercury acquired by MESSENGER
The first high-resolution color Wide Angle Camera image of Mercury acquired by MESSENGER. 
Smooth plains on Mercury imaged by MESSENGER during the third flyby of the planet.
Smooth plains on Mercury imaged by MESSENGER during the third flyby of the planet. 
An image of part of the previously unseen side of the planet
An image of part of the previously unseen side of the planet. 
Lava-flooded craters and large expanses of smooth volcanic plains on Mercury.
Lava-flooded craters and large expanses of smooth volcanic plains on Mercury. 

Orbital insertion [edit]

The thruster maneuver to insert the craft into Mercury's orbit began at 00:45 AM (UTC) on March 18, 2011. The maneuver lasted about 15 minutes, with confirmation that the craft was in Mercury orbit received at 1:10 AM (UTC) on March 18 (9:10 PM, March 17 EDT).[36] Mission lead engineer Eric Finnegan indicated that the spacecraft had achieved a near-perfect orbit.[44]

MESSENGER's orbit is highly elliptical, taking it within 200 kilometers (120 mi) of Mercury's surface and then 15,000 km (9,300 mi) away from it every twelve hours. This orbit was chosen to shield the probe from the heat radiated by Mercury's hot surface. Only a small portion of each orbit is at a low altitude, where the spacecraft is subjected to heating from the hot side of the planet.[45]

Charles Bolden and colleagues wait for news from MESSENGER.
Charles Bolden and colleagues wait for news from the MESSENGER probe. 
Charles Bolden congratulates Eric Finnegan as the spacecraft successfully inserted itself in Mercury's orbit.
Charles Bolden congratulates Eric Finnegan following the successful orbital insertion. 
The first-ever photograph from Mercury orbit, taken by MESSENGER on March 29, 2011.
The first-ever photograph from Mercury orbit, taken by MESSENGER on March 29, 2011. 
A Chart of MESSENGER's Orbital Insertion
A simplified chart showing the path of MESSENGER's orbital insertion. 

Primary science [edit]

After MESSENGER's orbital insertion, an eighteen-day commissioning phase took place. The supervising personnel switched on and tested the craft's science instruments to ensure they had completed the journey without damage.[46] The commissioning phase "demonstrated that the spacecraft and payload [were] all operating nominally, notwithstanding Mercury’s challenging environment.”[15]

The primary mission began as planned April 4, with MESSENGER orbiting Mercury once every twelve hours for an intended duration of twelve Earth months, the equivalent of two solar days on Mercury.[15] Principal Investigator Sean Solomon, then of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, said: “With the beginning today of the primary science phase of the mission, we will be making nearly continuous observations that will allow us to gain the first global perspective on the innermost planet. Moreover, as solar activity steadily increases, we will have a front-row seat on the most dynamic magnetosphere–atmosphere system in the solar system.”[15]

On October 5, 2011, the scientific results obtained by MESSENGER during its first six terrestrial months in Mercury's orbit were presented in a series of papers at the European Planetary Science Congress in Nantes, France.[8] Among the discoveries presented were the unexpectedly high concentrations of magnesium and calcium found on Mercury's nightside, and the fact that Mercury's magnetic field is offset far to the north of the planet's center.[8]

A Monochrome view of Mercury from MESSENGER
A monochrome image of Mercury from MESSENGER. 
A yet-unnamed crater with 'x' marked across its surface
"Crater-X", named for the raised cross through its centre. 
A South Polar Projection of Mercury
A south polar projection of Mercury. 
A close snapshot of Ridges near the South Pole
A close snapshot of ridges near Mercury's south pole. 

Extended mission [edit]

In November 2011, NASA announced that the MESSENGER mission would be extended by one year, allowing the spacecraft to observe the 2012 solar maximum.[1] Its extended mission began on March 17, 2012, and will continue until March 2013. Between April 16 and April 20, 2012, MESSENGER carried out a series of thruster manoeuvres, placing it in an eight-hour orbit to conduct further scans of Mercury.[47]

In November 2012, NASA reported that MESSENGER had discovered both water ice and organic compounds in permanently shadowed craters in Mercury's north pole.[9][48] In February 2013, NASA published the most detailed and accurate 3D map of Mercury to date, assembled from thousands of images taken by MESSENGER.[49][50]

MESSENGER family portrait [edit]

MESSENGER captured a near-complete portrait of the solar system during November 2010.
Main article: Family Portrait (MESSENGER)

On February 18, 2011, a portrait of the solar system was published on the MESSENGER website. The mosaic contained 34 images, acquired by the MDIS instrument during November 2010. All the planets were visible with the exception of Uranus and Neptune, due to their vast distances from the Sun. The MESSENGER "family portrait" was intended to be complementary to the Voyager family portrait, which was acquired from the outer solar system by Voyager 1 on February 14, 1990.[51]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

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  44. ^ Roylance, Frank (March 17, 2011). "Messenger successfully goes into orbit around Mercury". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2011-03-18. 
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  51. ^ "A Solar System Family Portrait, from the Inside Out" (Press release). APL. February 18, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-18. 

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