HTTP:: MESSENGER Explores Mercury Experiences Glitch
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Yesterday, NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging spacecraft (MESSENGER) did its third and final flyby of Mercury, before its 2011 orbital insertion date. During the approach, areas of the planet that had never before been imaged were analyzed, but the success of the mission was diminished by a small glitch the probe suffered while on approach. It may be that some images were lost, or never taken, and mission controllers are unsure if any photographs were snapped as the craft flew away from the innermost planet, Space reports. The lowest point in MESSENGER's flight was achieved shortly before 5:55 pm EDT (2155 GMT). The craft flew about 228 kilometers (141 miles) above the surface of the planet, and it has already sent back some pictures it took during the approach. In addition to being the final observation run above the planet, yesterday's event was also an elegant gravity assist maneuver that set the probe on the correct path to orbital ins!
ertion. After it makes a few more rounds around the Sun, the device will be captured in Mercury's orbit starting with 2011, and will begin to make constant, scientific observations of the surface. “We do have some new science from the flyby. We missed a little icing on the cake. What is important is that the spacecraft and the i...
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http://news.softpedia.com/news/MESSENGERS-Explores-Mercury-Experiences-Glitch-123091.shtml
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