MESSENGER MISSION TO MERCURY
Videos:
This animation illustrates the motion of the field of view of the Visible and Infrared Spectrograph (VIRS) channel of MASCS. Once the spacecraft finishes its slew, it executes an observing program that carries the VIRS field of view across the sunlit surface of Mercury (green). At a selected number of targets, the spacecraft rotates to freeze the field of view long enough for the Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrometer to acquire a complete ultraviolet spectrum (yellow).
release date: 9/28/2009
As MESSENGER crosses the terminator, it first briefly slews the instruments’ fields of view above the planet. It next executes a series of targeted observations. Blue flashes show when camera images are taken. Green lines outline the smaller, pinpoint field of view of MASCS.
release date: 9/28/2009
'Departure Observing Plan' for the September 29 flyby.
During Flyby 3, MESSENGER will specifically target for detailed spectral analysis by the MASCS instrument. A summary of the scientific significance of these targets is summarized. The above movies illustrate the observing program that the spacecraft and instruments will execute just after closest approach. ‘Flashes’ in the videos indicate the ‘image frames’ from the camera that provides geological context for the MASCS observations.
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About MESSENGER
MESSENGER is a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury, the least explored terrestrial planet. Understanding Mercury and how it was formed is essential to understanding the other terrestrial planets and their evolution. Mercury has been visited by only one other spacecraft, Mariner 10, so we know little more than its average density (the second greatest of all the planets), the composition of its atmosphere (thinnest of the terrestrial planets), the fact that it posses a global magnetic field, and its extreme variations in temperature. MESSENGER will serve to lift some of the uncertainty about this innermost planet of our solar system.
The MESSENGER mission will orbit Mercury after making three flybys of the planet, using data collected during the flybys as an initial guide to perform a more focused scientific investigation of this mysterious world. MESSENGER will investigate six key scientific questions about Mercury's characteristics and environment with a set of miniaturized space instruments. The spacecraft will enter Mercury orbit in March 2011 and carry out comprehensive measurements for one full Earth year.
LASP Instrument:
MASCS: Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition SpectrometerLASP developed and built the MASCS instrument onboard MESSENGER. MASCS is designed to detect minerals on Mercury’s surface, and determine the abundance and components of its thin atmosphere. Data from MASCS will help answer the questions: What is Mercury’s surface made out of? How is Mercury’s atmosphere generated? Does Mercury have ice at its poles?
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