Mercury MESSENGER Update Thread

[brellis]

Edit 9/2007: we can carry on discussions of future newsworthy MESSENGER updates here in this thread.<br /><br />Smile, Venus, you're on candid camera! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Messenger Homepage with report on May 25 trajectory correction maneuver<br /><br />Here's a cool Timeline <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Thanx Brellis!<br /><br />From the link:<br /><br />May 25, 2007<br />MESSENGER ZEROS IN ON VENUS<br />The MESSENGER trajectory correction maneuver (TCM-16) completed on May 25 lasted 36 seconds and adjusted the spacecraft’s velocity by 0.212 meters per second (0.696 feet per second). The movement targeted the spacecraft close to the intended aim point 337 kilometers (209 miles) above the surface of Venus for the probe’s June 5 flyby of that planet. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Mariner 10 enhanced color images of Mercury's surface highlighting the different composition. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks brellis & MeteorWayne.<br /><br />This mission is going really well. Next year on Saturday 14th January 2008 MESSENGER makes the first encounter<br />with Mercury, the first since Mariner 10.<br /><br />I haope this encounter will reveal more about Venus.<br /><br />Wonder if they are co-ordinating observations with ESA Venus Express?<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

done status report <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Mercury-bound space probe gets upclose with Venus<br />BY STEPHEN CLARK<br />SPACEFLIGHT NOW<br />Posted: June 4, 2007<br /><br />Scientists will have a rare opportunity to get a unique look at Venus Tuesday, when a NASA probe bound for Mercury will slingshot around Earth's sister planet and conduct dual science observations with a European craft in orbit. <br /><br />The main purpose of Tuesday's flyby is to use Venus's gravity to slow the MESSENGER spacecraft's velocity relative to the Sun by more than five miles per second, guiding the probe's orbit further into the inner solar system for a series of swings past Mercury beginning next January. <br /><br />But planetary scientists around the world are savoring a chance to have two different spacecraft in the vicinity of Venus. MESSENGER's observations this week will complement those of Venus Express, a European Space Agency mission orbiting the planet. <br /><br />"This is the first time that we are able to take observations from two different vantage points (at Venus)," said Sean Solomon, MESSENGER principal investigator at the Carnegie Institute of Washington. <br /><br />MESSENGER, which stands for Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, is gradually decreasing its velocity to rendezvous with the solar system's innermost planet in March 2011. The $427 million mission was launched in 2004 and subsequently flew past Earth and Venus in 2005 and 2006, respectively. <br /><br />Three flybys of Mercury are planned next year and in 2009 before MESSENGER slides into orbit around the enigmatic planet in 2011. <br /><br />MESSENGER will close to a distance of about 209 miles from Venus Tuesday. The craft will make its closest approach at 2308:19 GMT (7:08:19 p.m. EDT) as it zips over the planet's cloud tops at about 30,000 miles per hour. <br /><br />The probe will approach Venus from the planet's daytime side before entering darkness as it passes behind the planet. Closest approach will be in darkness but in full vi <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[gunsandrockets]

<...The main purpose of Tuesday's flyby is to use Venus's gravity to slow the MESSENGER spacecraft's velocity relative to the Sun by more than five miles per second, ...><br /><br />8 km/s? Impressive.<br /><br /><MESSENGER will also look for evidence of lightning on Venus's dark side. /><br /><br />If that evidence is in the form of imagery, that kind of bang-bang photography could generate some real media heat for MESSENGER.<br />

 

[3488]

Hi gunsandrockets.<br /><br />You are not wrong there on both points.<br /><br />MESSEGER approached Venus very closely from the dayside to the nightside, passing infront of the leading<br />hemisphere, hence the massive deceleration.<br /><br />Also as you mention, if lightning is detected photographically, this<br />will be a first in Venus exploration, not to<br />mention important brownie points for<br />the MESSENGER team.<br /><br />Lightning could be detected through radio bursts too, but I hope like you do<br />that there will be photographic evidence.<br /><br />Venus lightning has been a real mystery.<br /><br />Mariner 10 (MESSENGER's predecessor), made firm detection of Cytherian lightning,<br />through radio bursts.<br /><br />The Pioneer Venus orbiter, evidence was patcy at best,<br />the former Soviet Union VEGA probes on route to Comet Halley, similar results,<br />& the Jupiter bound Galileo (inconclusive), Saturn bound Cassini & ESA Venus express,<br />none at all.<br /><br />I wonder if Cytherian lightning is linked to volcanic eruptions?<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[christine16]

this mission is going really very well

 

[3488]

Very true. This mission is going extremely well.<br /><br />Another thing is that in January next year, we get to have the<br />first Mercury encounter, showing some 45% of the hemisphere, not imaged by Mariner 10.<br /><br />Although 55% of what MESSENGER will see in January will be pre-imaged terrain, the lighting<br />will be very different from Mariner 10.<br /><br />Although closest approach will also be over Mercury's nightside, the approach & look back images <br />will be impressive.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>I wonder if Cytherian lightning is linked to volcanic eruptions? <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Now there's an intriguing thought! No one has witnessed active volcanism on Venus, but the evidence is so strong that one would thing it would be only a matter of time before someone sees it in action. Of course, that pesky cloud cover doesn't help..... Venus, the veiled planet! It's tantalizing in much the same was as Titan, IMHO. It teases us.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see what results come of the joint observations with Venus Express. It's always cool when scientists get to team up like that. (Galileo/Cassini being one great example.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi CalliArcale.<br /><br />Great to talk with you again. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I agree completely. Venus although very well radar imaged by Magellan, still has a huge<br />air of mystery.<br /><br />The reasons for why I make the link between volcanism & lightning (you know this already)<br />is that volcanic plumes often generate lightning.<br /><br />Mount St Helens & Mt Pinatubo generated considerable lightning.<br /><br />The accounts of Krakatoa in 1883 & of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 by the Roman <br />Pliny the Elder described lightning (I have visited both<br />Pompeii & Herculaneum, in Italy).<br /><br />With Venus something similar could happen, but I do not know if the dense atmosphere<br />will stifle the formation of volcanic plumes.<br /><br />That could be a problem!!!<br /><br />Co-operation like that is truly fantastic.<br /><br />Both MESSENGER & Venus Express are highly capable, so it makes<br />sense to pool resources when the opportunity comes.<br /><br />Galileo & Cassini/Huygens was a great example, so was recently the <br />MRO & ESA's Rosetta during the Mars encounter.<br /><br />Below MSH in May 1980.<br /><br />Tried to find one with lightning in the plume.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

post from Emily Lakdawalla on unmannedspaceflight:<br /><br /><font color="orange">I've been forwarded a status report on MESSENGER that indicates that they've received telemetry indicating that there are hundreds of images now stored on the SSR, so it looks like they got lots of science done. Yay!<br /><br />--Emily</font><br /><br />Starting tomorrow, the data should start pouring in. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Brilliant news.<br /><br />FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Thanks Brellis.<br /><br />Look forward to seeing the results. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />From the JHU MESSENGER website.<br /><br />MESSENGER Completes Second Flyby of Venus, <br />Makes Its Way toward First Flyby of Mercury in 33 Years <br /><br />NASA’s MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft swung by Venus for the second time early this evening for a gravity assist that shrank the radius of its orbit around the Sun, pulling it closer to Mercury. At nearly 15,000 miles per hour, this change in MESSENGER’s velocity is the largest of the mission. <br /><br />Mission operators at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., said MESSENGER’s systems performed flawlessly as the spacecraft sped over the cloud tops of Venus at a relative velocity of more than 30,000 miles per hour, passing within 210 miles of the surface of the planet at 23:08 UTC (7:08 p.m. EDT). <br /><br />For 20 minutes during this closest approach, MESSENGER was within the shadow of Venus, and in the absence of solar power the probe relied solely on its internal battery. By 1:32 UTC (9:32 p.m. EDT) the battery had fully recharged, and the spacecraft was operating as planned. “The biggest milestone for mission operations was first acquisition of telemetry following closest approach, and confirmation that the battery was fully recharged following the 20-minute solar eclipse,†said APL’s Andy Calloway, MESSENGER’s mission operations manager. “We will be monitoring recorder playback beginning June 7 to make sure all of the files and images are fully downlinked. Next stop, Mercury on January 14, 2008!†<br /><br />This second Venus flyby was a critical mission milestone in the probe’s circuitous journey toward Mercury orbit insertion, <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

View of Venus from MESSENGER<br /><br />This image shows how Venus and its orbit (beige line) appear from the perspective of the MESSENGER spacecraft. The positions of the Sun, Venus and Earth are marked when they appear in the 30-degree field of view. When visible, the apparent size of the Sun is shown. Near Venus flybys, Venus's size and surface features are accurately represented. Positions of stars with magnitude 9 or brighter are shown. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

View of Earth from MESSENGER<br /><br />This image shows how Earth and its orbit (blue line) appear from the perspective of the MESSENGER spacecraft. The positions of the Sun, Mercury and Venus are marked when they appear in the 30-degree field of view. When visible, the apparent size of the Sun is shown. Positions of stars with magnitude 9 or brighter are shown. <br /><br />Andrew Brown.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Mercury, Sun, Mars, Uranus & Venus from MESSENGER.<br /><br />Wednesday 6th June 2007 @ 10:30 PM GMT.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Earth, Pluto & Jupiter from MESSENGER. <br /><br />Wednesday 6th June 2007 @ 10:30 PM GMT. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Post deleted by 3488 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Post deleted by 3488.<br /><br />Image did not attach.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Maybe a good time for a recap of the mission to date! <br /><br />Launch of MESSENGER. <br /><br />Tuesday 3rd August 2004.<br /><br />High resolution here.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Post deleted by 3488 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Earth Galapagos Islands from MESSENGER.<br /><br />Tuesday 2nd August 2005.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Earth from MESSENGER. <br /><br />Tuesday 2nd August 2005. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Crescent Earth from MESSENGER.<br /><br />Tuesday 2nd August 2005.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>