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background</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Mission_background-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Mission background subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Mission_background-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Previous_missions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Previous_missions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Previous missions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Previous_missions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Proposals_for_the_mission" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Proposals_for_the_mission"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Proposals for the mission</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Proposals_for_the_mission-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Objectives" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Objectives"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Objectives</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Objectives-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Spacecraft_design" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Spacecraft_design"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Spacecraft design</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Spacecraft_design-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Spacecraft design subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Spacecraft_design-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Attitude_control_and_propulsion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Attitude_control_and_propulsion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Attitude control and propulsion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Attitude_control_and_propulsion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Communications" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Communications"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Communications</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Communications-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Power" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Power"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Power</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Power-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Computer_and_software" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Computer_and_software"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4</span> <span>Computer and software</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Computer_and_software-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Scientific_instruments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Scientific_instruments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5</span> <span>Scientific instruments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Scientific_instruments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Mercury_Dual_Imaging_System_(MDIS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mercury_Dual_Imaging_System_(MDIS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.1</span> <span>Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Mercury_Dual_Imaging_System_(MDIS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gamma-Ray_Spectrometer_(GRS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gamma-Ray_Spectrometer_(GRS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.2</span> <span>Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gamma-Ray_Spectrometer_(GRS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Neutron_Spectrometer_(NS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Neutron_Spectrometer_(NS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.3</span> <span>Neutron Spectrometer (NS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Neutron_Spectrometer_(NS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-X-Ray_Spectrometer_(XRS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#X-Ray_Spectrometer_(XRS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.4</span> <span>X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-X-Ray_Spectrometer_(XRS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Magnetometer_(MAG)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Magnetometer_(MAG)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.5</span> <span>Magnetometer (MAG)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Magnetometer_(MAG)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Mercury_Laser_Altimeter_(MLA)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mercury_Laser_Altimeter_(MLA)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.6</span> <span>Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Mercury_Laser_Altimeter_(MLA)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Mercury_Atmospheric_and_Surface_Composition_Spectrometer_(MASCS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mercury_Atmospheric_and_Surface_Composition_Spectrometer_(MASCS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.7</span> <span>Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Mercury_Atmospheric_and_Surface_Composition_Spectrometer_(MASCS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Energetic_Particle_and_Plasma_Spectrometer_(EPPS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Energetic_Particle_and_Plasma_Spectrometer_(EPPS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.8</span> <span>Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Energetic_Particle_and_Plasma_Spectrometer_(EPPS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Radio_Science_(RS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Radio_Science_(RS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.9</span> <span>Radio Science (RS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Radio_Science_(RS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Mission_profile" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mission_profile"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Mission profile</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Mission_profile-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Mission profile subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Mission_profile-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Launch_and_trajectory" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Launch_and_trajectory"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Launch and trajectory</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Launch_and_trajectory-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Earth_flyby" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Earth_flyby"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Earth flyby</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Earth_flyby-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Two_Venus_flybys" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Two_Venus_flybys"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Two Venus flybys</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Two_Venus_flybys-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Three_Mercury_flybys" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Three_Mercury_flybys"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Three Mercury flybys</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Three_Mercury_flybys-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Orbital_insertion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Orbital_insertion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>Orbital insertion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Orbital_insertion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Primary_science" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Primary_science"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Primary science</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Primary_science-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Primary science subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Primary_science-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Extended_mission" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Extended_mission"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Extended mission</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Extended_mission-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Discovery_of_water,_organic_compounds_and_volcanism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Discovery_of_water,_organic_compounds_and_volcanism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Discovery of water, organic compounds and volcanism</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Discovery_of_water,_organic_compounds_and_volcanism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Solar_System_portrait" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Solar_System_portrait"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.3</span> <span>Solar System portrait</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Solar_System_portrait-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-View_of_a_total_lunar_eclipse" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#View_of_a_total_lunar_eclipse"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.4</span> <span>View of a total lunar eclipse</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-View_of_a_total_lunar_eclipse-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-End_of_mission" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#End_of_mission"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>End of mission</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-End_of_mission-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><i>MESSENGER</i></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 55 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-55" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">55 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%B1_(%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D9%81%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A)" title="ماسنجر (مسبار فضائي) – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="ماسنجر (مسبار فضائي)" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0_(%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8)" title="মেসেঞ্জার (মহাকাশযান) – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="মেসেঞ্জার (মহাকাশযান)" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%8D%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B0%D1%80_(%D0%90%D0%9C%D0%A1)" title="Месэнджар (АМС) – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Месэнджар (АМС)" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%95%D0%A1%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%94%D0%96%D0%AA%D0%A0" title="МЕСИНДЖЪР – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="МЕСИНДЖЪР" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%B1_(%D9%81%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7)" title="مسنجر (فضاپیما) – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="مسنجر (فضاپیما)" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_(sonda_espacial)" title="Messenger (sonda espacial) – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Messenger (sonda espacial)" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%A9%94%EC%8B%A0%EC%A0%80_(%EC%9A%B0%EC%A3%BC%EC%84%A0)" title="메신저 (우주선) – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="메신저 (우주선)" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B0" title="मेसेंजर – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="मेसेंजर" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-io mw-list-item"><a href="https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Ido" lang="io" hreflang="io" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Ido" data-language-local-name="Ido" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ido</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%A0%D7%92%27%D7%A8_(%D7%92%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%AA)" title="מסנג'ר (גשושית) – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מסנג'ר (גשושית)" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kn mw-list-item"><a href="https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%86%E0%B2%B8%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B8%E0%B3%86%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%9C%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%8D_%E0%B2%97%E0%B2%97%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%A8%E0%B3%8C%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%86" title="ಮೆಸ್ಸೆಂಜರ್ ಗಗನನೌಕೆ – Kannada" lang="kn" hreflang="kn" data-title="ಮೆಸ್ಸೆಂಜರ್ ಗಗನನೌಕೆ" data-language-autonym="ಕನ್ನಡ" data-language-local-name="Kannada" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ಕನ್ನಡ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sw mw-list-item"><a href="https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Swahili" lang="sw" hreflang="sw" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Kiswahili" data-language-local-name="Swahili" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Kiswahili</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-la mw-list-item"><a href="https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Latin" lang="la" hreflang="la" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Latina" data-language-local-name="Latin" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv mw-list-item"><a href="https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Latviešu" data-language-local-name="Latvian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latviešu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%9E%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%BC" title="മെസെഞ്ചർ – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="മെസെഞ്ചർ" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A1%E3%83%83%E3%82%BB%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC_(%E6%8E%A2%E6%9F%BB%E6%A9%9F)" title="メッセンジャー (探査機) – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="メッセンジャー (探査機)" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_(sonde)" title="Messenger (sonde) – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Messenger (sonde)" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn mw-list-item"><a href="https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Norsk nynorsk" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Nynorsk" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk nynorsk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-oc mw-list-item"><a href="https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Occitan" lang="oc" hreflang="oc" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Occitan" data-language-local-name="Occitan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Occitan</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pa mw-list-item"><a href="https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%AE%E0%A9%88%E0%A8%B8%E0%A8%BF%E0%A9%B0%E0%A8%9C%E0%A8%B0" title="ਮੈਸਿੰਜਰ – Punjabi" lang="pa" hreflang="pa" data-title="ਮੈਸਿੰਜਰ" data-language-autonym="ਪੰਜਾਬੀ" data-language-local-name="Punjabi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ਪੰਜਾਬੀ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pnb mw-list-item"><a href="https://pnb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%B1_(%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C_%DA%AF%DA%88%DB%8C)" title="میسنجر (خلائی گڈی) – Western Punjabi" lang="pnb" hreflang="pnb" data-title="میسنجر (خلائی گڈی)" data-language-autonym="پنجابی" data-language-local-name="Western Punjabi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پنجابی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER_(sonda_kosmiczna)" title="MESSENGER (sonda kosmiczna) – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="MESSENGER (sonda kosmiczna)" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B5%D1%80_(%D0%90%D0%9C%D0%A1)" title="Мессенджер (АМС) – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Мессенджер (АМС)" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ckb mw-list-item"><a href="https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8E%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AC%DB%95%D8%B1_(%DA%A9%DB%95%D8%B4%D8%AA%DB%8C%DB%8C_%D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C)" title="مێسنجەر (کەشتیی ئاسمانی) – Central Kurdish" lang="ckb" hreflang="ckb" data-title="مێسنجەر (کەشتیی ئاسمانی)" data-language-autonym="کوردی" data-language-local-name="Central Kurdish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>کوردی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_(luotain)" title="Messenger (luotain) – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Messenger (luotain)" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_(rymdsond)" title="Messenger (rymdsond) – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Messenger (rymdsond)" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tl mw-list-item"><a href="https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Tagalog" lang="tl" hreflang="tl" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Tagalog" data-language-local-name="Tagalog" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tagalog</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_(%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D)" title="மெசஞ்சர் (விண்கலம்) – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="மெசஞ்சர் (விண்கலம்)" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C_(%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8)" title="เมสเซนเจอร์ (ยานอวกาศ) – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="เมสเซนเจอร์ (ยานอวกาศ)" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER_(uzay_sondas%C4%B1)" title="MESSENGER (uzay sondası) – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="MESSENGER (uzay sondası)" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ur mw-list-item"><a href="https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%B1_(%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C_%D8%AC%DB%81%D8%A7%D8%B2)" title="میسنجر (خلائی جہاز) – Urdu" lang="ur" hreflang="ur" data-title="میسنجر (خلائی جہاز)" data-language-autonym="اردو" data-language-local-name="Urdu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>اردو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESSENGER" title="MESSENGER – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="MESSENGER" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BF%A1%E4%BD%BF%E5%8F%B7" title="信使号 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="信使号" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q182539#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet 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.hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Mercury Messenger" redirects here. For the 2003 concept car, see <a href="/wiki/Mercury_Messenger_(concept_car)" title="Mercury Messenger (concept car)">Mercury Messenger (concept car)</a>. For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/Messenger_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Messenger (disambiguation)">Messenger (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1089065853">.mw-parser-output .ib-spaceflight{width:25em}.mw-parser-output .ib-spaceflight .infobox-header{background:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .ib-edit-wd{float:right}</style><table class="infobox ib-spaceflight"><caption class="infobox-title"><i>MESSENGER</i></caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg/260px-MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg" decoding="async" width="260" height="212" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg/390px-MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg/520px-MESSENGER_-_spacecraft_at_mercury_-_atmercury_lg.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2130" data-file-height="1737" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">Artist's rendering of <i>MESSENGER</i> orbiting Mercury</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Mission type</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a> orbiter</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Operator</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/National_Aeronautics_and_Space_Administration" class="mw-redirect" title="National Aeronautics and Space Administration">NASA</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/International_Designator" title="International Designator">COSPAR ID</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="nowrap"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2004-030A">2004-030A</a></span><span class="ib-edit-wd"> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182539#P247" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Satellite_Catalog_Number" title="Satellite Catalog Number">SATCAT <abbr title="number">no.</abbr></a></th><td class="infobox-data">28391</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Website</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/">messenger<wbr />.jhuapl<wbr />.edu</a></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Mission duration</th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul style="margin-left:1em;text-indent:-1em;"><li><b>Total</b>: 10 years, 8 months and 27 days</li><li><b>At Mercury</b>: 4 years, 1 month and 14 days</li><li><b>En route</b>: 7 years</li><li><b>Primary mission</b>: 1 year</li><li><b>First extension</b>: 1 year<sup id="cite_ref-Extended2013_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Extended2013-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ExMissionCompleted2013_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ExMissionCompleted2013-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li><li><b>Second extension</b>: 2 years<sup id="cite_ref-Wu_2015_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wu_2015-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Extension_2015_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Extension_2015-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header">Spacecraft properties</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Manufacturer</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Applied_Physics_Laboratory" title="Applied Physics Laboratory">Applied Physics Laboratory</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Launch mass</th><td class="infobox-data">1,107.9 kg (2,443 lb)<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Power</th><td class="infobox-data">450 watts</td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header">Start of mission</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Launch date</th><td class="infobox-data">August 3, 2004, 06:15:56<span style="display:none"> (<span class="dtstart">2004-08-03UTC06:15:56Z</span>)</span> UTC</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Rocket</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Delta_II" title="Delta II">Delta II</a> 7925H-9.5</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Launch site</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station" class="mw-redirect" title="Cape Canaveral Air Force Station">Cape Canaveral</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station_Space_Launch_Complex_17" class="mw-redirect" title="Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17">SLC-17B</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Entered service</th><td class="infobox-data">April 4, 2011</td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header">End of mission</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Disposal</th><td class="infobox-data">Crashed into Mercury</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Destroyed</th><td class="infobox-data">April 30, 2015, 19:26 UTC<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header">Orbital parameters</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Reference system</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Hermiocentric_orbit" class="mw-redirect" title="Hermiocentric orbit">Hermiocentric</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Apsis" title="Apsis">Perihermion altitude</a></th><td class="infobox-data">200 km (120 mi)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Apsis" title="Apsis">Apohermion altitude</a></th><td class="infobox-data">10,300 km (6,400 mi)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Orbital_inclination" title="Orbital inclination">Inclination</a></th><td class="infobox-data">80°</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Orbital_period" title="Orbital period">Period</a></th><td class="infobox-data">12 hours</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Epoch_(astronomy)" title="Epoch (astronomy)">Epoch</a></th><td class="infobox-data">January 1, 2000<sup id="cite_ref-Domingue_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Domingue-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;">Flyby of <a href="/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a> <span class="nowrap">(gravity assist)</span></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closest approach</th><td class="infobox-data">August 2, 2005</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Distance</th><td class="infobox-data">2,347 km (1,458 mi)</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;">Flyby of <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a> <span class="nowrap">(gravity assist)</span></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closest approach</th><td class="infobox-data">October 24, 2006</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Distance</th><td class="infobox-data">2,990 km (1,860 mi)</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;">Flyby of <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a> <span class="nowrap">(gravity assist)</span></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closest approach</th><td class="infobox-data">June 5, 2007</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Distance</th><td class="infobox-data">337 km (209 mi)</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;">Flyby of <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closest approach</th><td class="infobox-data">January 14, 2008</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Distance</th><td class="infobox-data">200 km (120 mi)</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;">Flyby of <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closest approach</th><td class="infobox-data">October 6, 2008</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Distance</th><td class="infobox-data">200 km (120 mi)</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;">Flyby of <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closest approach</th><td class="infobox-data">September 29, 2009</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Distance</th><td class="infobox-data">228 km (142 mi)</td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background: #ddf;"><a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a> orbiter</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Orbital insertion</th><td class="infobox-data">March 18, 2011, 01:00 UTC<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr style="display:none"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png/180px-MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png" decoding="async" width="180" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png/270px-MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png/360px-MESSENGER_mission_emblem.png 2x" data-file-width="2400" data-file-height="2204" /></a></span> <div class="" style="width:100%; text-align:center; border-top:1px #aaa solid"><b><a href="/wiki/Discovery_program" class="mw-redirect" title="Discovery program">Discovery program</a></b></div><div style="width:100%"><div style="float: left; text-align:left;padding-right:0.5em;" class="noprint">← <i><a href="/wiki/CONTOUR" title="CONTOUR">CONTOUR</a></i></div><div style="float: right; text-align:right;padding-left:0.5em;" class="noprint"><i><a href="/wiki/Deep_Impact_(spacecraft)" title="Deep Impact (spacecraft)">Deep Impact</a></i> →</div></div><div style="clear:both;" class=""></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><i><b>MESSENGER</b></i> was a <a href="/wiki/NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a> <a href="/wiki/Space_probe" class="mw-redirect" title="Space probe">robotic space probe</a> that orbited the planet <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a> between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, <a href="/wiki/Geology_of_Mercury" title="Geology of Mercury">geology</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Mercury%27s_magnetic_field" title="Mercury's magnetic field">magnetic field</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-CircleMerc_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CircleMerc-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The name is a <a href="/wiki/Backronym" title="Backronym">backronym</a> for <i>Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging</i>, and a reference to the messenger god <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)" title="Mercury (mythology)">Mercury</a> from <a href="/wiki/Roman_mythology" title="Roman mythology">Roman mythology</a>. </p><p><i>MESSENGER</i> was launched aboard a <a href="/wiki/Delta_II" title="Delta II">Delta II</a> rocket in August 2004. Its path involved a complex series of <a href="/wiki/Gravity_assist" title="Gravity assist">flybys</a> – the spacecraft flew by <a href="/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a> once, <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a> twice, and Mercury itself three times, allowing it to decelerate relative to Mercury using minimal fuel. During its first flyby of Mercury in January 2008, <i>MESSENGER</i> became the second mission, after <a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">Mariner 10</a> in 1975, to reach Mercury.<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl1_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl1-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl2_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl2-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl3_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl3-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><i>MESSENGER</i> entered orbit around Mercury on March 18, 2011, becoming the first spacecraft to do so.<sup id="cite_ref-CircleMerc_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CircleMerc-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It successfully completed its primary mission in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-ExMissionCompleted2013_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ExMissionCompleted2013-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following two mission extensions, the spacecraft used the last of its maneuvering propellant to deorbit, impacting the surface of Mercury on April 30, 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-NYT-20150430_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NYT-20150430-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Mission_overview">Mission overview</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Mission overview"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><i>MESSENGER</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'</span>s formal data collection mission began on April 4, 2011.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The primary mission was completed on March 17, 2012, having collected close to 100,000 images.<sup id="cite_ref-jhuap14_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuap14-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>MESSENGER</i> achieved 100% mapping of Mercury on March 6, 2013, and completed its first year-long extended mission on March 17, 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-ExMissionCompleted2013_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ExMissionCompleted2013-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The probe's second extended mission lasted for over two years, but as its low orbit degraded, it required reboosts to avoid impact. It conducted its final reboost burns on October 24, 2014, and January 21, 2015, before crashing into Mercury on April 30, 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-EclipseReboost_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-EclipseReboost-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Bang_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bang-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-200,000ImagesSurpassed_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-200,000ImagesSurpassed-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During its stay in Mercury orbit, the probe's instruments yielded significant data, including a characterization of Mercury's magnetic field<sup id="cite_ref-Nantes5_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nantes5-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the discovery of water <a href="/wiki/Ice" title="Ice">ice</a> at the planet's north pole,<sup id="cite_ref-IceonMercury_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-IceonMercury-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> which had long been suspected on the basis of Earth-based radar data.<sup id="cite_ref-HarmonSlade1994_23-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-HarmonSlade1994-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Mission_background">Mission background</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Mission background"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Previous_missions">Previous missions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Previous missions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1973, <a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">Mariner 10</a> was launched by NASA to make multiple flyby encounters of Venus and Mercury. Mariner 10 provided the first detailed data of Mercury, mapping 40–45% of the surface.<sup id="cite_ref-USATMessenger_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-USATMessenger-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Mariner 10's final flyby of Mercury occurred on March 16, 1975. No subsequent close-range observations of the planet would take place for more than 30 years. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Proposals_for_the_mission">Proposals for the mission</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Proposals for the mission"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>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 <a href="/wiki/Heavy_lift_launch_vehicle" class="mw-redirect" title="Heavy lift launch vehicle">heavy lift launch vehicle</a>. 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 <a href="/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">Sun</a>'s gravity and pass Mercury far too quickly to orbit it. However, using a trajectory designed by Chen-wan Yen<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> in 1985, the study showed it was possible to execute a <a href="/wiki/Discovery_Program" title="Discovery Program">Discovery-class</a> 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.<sup id="cite_ref-1998Design_26-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1998Design-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Objectives">Objectives</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Objectives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <i>MESSENGER</i> mission was designed to study the characteristics and environment of Mercury from orbit. The scientific objectives of the mission were:<sup id="cite_ref-Objectives1_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Objectives1-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>to characterize the chemical composition of Mercury's surface.</li> <li>to study the planet's geologic history.</li> <li>to elucidate the nature of the global magnetic field (<a href="/wiki/Magnetosphere" title="Magnetosphere">magnetosphere</a>).</li> <li>to determine the size and state of the <a href="/wiki/Planetary_core" title="Planetary core">core</a>.</li> <li>to determine the volatile inventory at the poles.</li> <li>to study the nature of Mercury's <a href="/wiki/Exosphere" title="Exosphere">exosphere</a>.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Spacecraft_design">Spacecraft design</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Spacecraft design"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span class="mw-3d-wrapper" data-label="3D"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_Probe.stl" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="Interactive 3D model of MESSENGER" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/MESSENGER_Probe.stl/298px-MESSENGER_Probe.stl.png" decoding="async" width="298" height="224" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/MESSENGER_Probe.stl/447px-MESSENGER_Probe.stl.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/MESSENGER_Probe.stl/596px-MESSENGER_Probe.stl.png 2x" data-file-width="5120" data-file-height="2880" /></a></span><figcaption>Interactive 3D model of <i>MESSENGER</i></figcaption></figure> <p>The <i>MESSENGER</i> spacecraft was designed and built at the <a href="/wiki/Johns_Hopkins_University" title="Johns Hopkins University">Johns Hopkins University</a> <a href="/wiki/Applied_Physics_Laboratory" title="Applied Physics Laboratory">Applied Physics Laboratory</a>. Science operations were managed by <a href="/wiki/Sean_Solomon" title="Sean Solomon">Sean Solomon</a> as principal investigator, and mission operations were also conducted at JHU/APL.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <i>MESSENGER</i> <a href="/wiki/Satellite_bus" title="Satellite bus">bus</a> measured 1.85 meters (73 in) tall, 1.42 m (56 in) wide, and 1.27 m (50 in) deep. The bus was primarily constructed with four <a href="/wiki/Graphite_fiber" class="mw-redirect" title="Graphite fiber">graphite fiber</a> / <a href="/wiki/Cyanate_ester" title="Cyanate ester">cyanate ester</a> composite panels that supported 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.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At launch, the spacecraft weighed approximately 1,100 kilograms (2,400 lb) with its full load of propellant.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>MESSENGER</i>'s total mission cost, including the cost of the spacecraft's construction, was estimated at under US$450 million.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Attitude_control_and_propulsion">Attitude control and propulsion</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Attitude control and propulsion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Main propulsion was provided by the 645 <a href="/wiki/Newton_(unit)" title="Newton (unit)">N</a>, 317 sec. <a href="/wiki/Specific_impulse" title="Specific impulse">I<sub>sp</sub></a> <a href="/wiki/Bipropellant_rocket" class="mw-redirect" title="Bipropellant rocket">bipropellant</a> (<a href="/wiki/Hydrazine" title="Hydrazine">hydrazine</a> and <a href="/wiki/Nitrogen_tetroxide" class="mw-redirect" title="Nitrogen tetroxide">nitrogen tetroxide</a>) large velocity assist (LVA) thruster. The model used was the <a href="/wiki/LEROS" title="LEROS">LEROS 1b</a>, developed and manufactured at AMPAC‐ISP's Westcott works, in the United Kingdom. The spacecraft was designed to carry 607.8 kilograms (1,340 lb) of propellant and <a href="/wiki/Helium" title="Helium">helium</a> pressurizer for the LVA.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Four 22 N (4.9 lb<sub>f</sub>) <a href="/wiki/Monopropellant_rocket" title="Monopropellant rocket">monopropellant</a> thrusters provided spacecraft steering during main thruster burns, and twelve 4.4 N (1.0 lb<sub>f</sub>) monopropellant thrusters were used for <a href="/wiki/Spacecraft_attitude_control" class="mw-redirect" title="Spacecraft attitude control">attitude control</a>. For precision attitude control, a <a href="/wiki/Reaction_wheel" title="Reaction wheel">reaction wheel</a> <a href="/wiki/Attitude_control_system" class="mw-redirect" title="Attitude control system">attitude control system</a> was also included.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Information for attitude control was provided by <a href="/wiki/Star_tracker" title="Star tracker">star trackers</a>, an <a href="/wiki/Attitude_control_(spacecraft)#Gyroscopes" class="mw-redirect" title="Attitude control (spacecraft)">inertial measurement unit</a> and six <a href="/wiki/Sun_sensor" title="Sun sensor">Sun sensors</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Communications">Communications</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Communications"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The probe included two <a href="/wiki/Small_deep_space_transponder" class="mw-redirect" title="Small deep space transponder">small deep space transponders</a> for communications with the <a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_Network" class="mw-redirect" title="Deep Space Network">Deep Space Network</a> and three kinds of antennas: a high gain phased array whose main beam could 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 was 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 was mounted on the front of the probe facing the Sun, and one of each was mounted to the back of the probe facing away from the Sun.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Power">Power</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Power"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The space probe was powered by a two-panel <a href="/wiki/Gallium_arsenide" title="Gallium arsenide">gallium arsenide</a>/<a href="/wiki/Germanium" title="Germanium">germanium</a> <a href="/wiki/Solar_array" class="mw-redirect" title="Solar array">solar array</a> providing an average of 450 <a href="/wiki/Watt" title="Watt">watts</a> while in Mercury orbit. Each panel was rotatable and included optical solar reflectors to balance the temperature of the array. Power was stored in a common-pressure-vessel, 23-<a href="/wiki/Ampere" title="Ampere">ampere</a>-hour <a href="/wiki/Nickel%E2%80%93hydrogen_battery" title="Nickel–hydrogen battery">nickel–hydrogen battery</a>, with 11 vessels and two cells per vessel.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Computer_and_software">Computer and software</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Computer and software"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The spacecraft's onboard computer system was contained in an Integrated Electronics Module (IEM), a device that combined core <a href="/wiki/Avionics" title="Avionics">avionics</a> into a single box. The computer featured two <a href="/wiki/Radiation_hardening" title="Radiation hardening">radiation-hardened</a> <a href="/wiki/IBM_RAD6000" title="IBM RAD6000">IBM RAD6000s</a>, a 25 <a href="/wiki/Megahertz" class="mw-redirect" title="Megahertz">megahertz</a> main processor, and a 10 MHz fault protection processor. For redundancy, the spacecraft carried a pair of identical IEMs. For <a href="/wiki/Data_storage_device" class="mw-redirect" title="Data storage device">data storage</a>, the spacecraft carried two <a href="/wiki/Solid-state_drive" title="Solid-state drive">solid-state</a> recorders able to store up to one <a href="/wiki/Gigabyte" title="Gigabyte">gigabyte</a> each. The IBM RAD6000 main processor collected, <a href="/wiki/Data_compression" title="Data compression">compressed</a>, and stored data from <i>MESSENGER</i>'s instruments for later playback to Earth.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><i>MESSENGER</i> used 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."<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Scientific_instruments">Scientific instruments</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Scientific instruments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Mercury_Dual_Imaging_System_(MDIS)"><span id="Mercury_Dual_Imaging_System_.28MDIS.29"></span>Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_MDIS.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/MESSENGER_-_MDIS.jpg/200px-MESSENGER_-_MDIS.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="193" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/MESSENGER_-_MDIS.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="250" data-file-height="241" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Included two <a href="/wiki/Charge-coupled_device" title="Charge-coupled device">CCD</a> cameras, a narrow-angle camera (NAC) and a wide-angle camera (WAC) mounted to a pivoting platform. The camera system provided a complete map of the surface of Mercury at a resolution of 250 meters/pixel (820 ft/pixel), and images of regions of geologic interest at 20–50 meters/pixel (66–164 ft/pixel). Color imaging was possible only with the narrow-band filter wheel attached to the wide-angle camera.<sup id="cite_ref-MDISDescription_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MDISDescription-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCMDIS_35-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCMDIS-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-MDISDescription_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MDISDescription-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Flyby Phase: <ul><li>Acquisition of near-global coverage at ≈500 meters/pixel (1,600 ft/pixel).</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multispectral" class="mw-redirect" title="Multispectral">Multispectral</a> mapping at ≈2 kilometers/pixel (1.2 mi/pixel).</li></ul></li> <li>Orbital Phase: <ul><li>A <a href="/wiki/Nadir" title="Nadir">nadir</a>-looking <a href="/wiki/Monochrome" title="Monochrome">monochrome</a> global <a href="/wiki/Photomosaic" class="mw-redirect" title="Photomosaic">photomosaic</a> at moderate solar <a href="/wiki/Angle_of_incidence_(optics)" title="Angle of incidence (optics)">incidence angles</a> (55°–75°) and 250 meters/pixel (820 ft/pixel) or better sampling resolution.</li> <li>A 25°-off-nadir mosaic to complement the nadir-looking mosaic for global <a href="/wiki/Stereo_imaging" title="Stereo imaging">stereo mapping</a>.</li> <li>Completion of the multispectral mapping begun during the flybys.</li> <li>High-resolution (20–50 meters/pixel (66–164 ft/pixel)) image strips across features representative of major geologic units and structures.</li></ul></li></ul> <table class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; align=right"> <tbody><tr> <th>Filters<sup id="cite_ref-MDIS2007_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MDIS2007-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </th></tr> <tr> <td> <table style="text-align:center"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="4" scope="col" style="width:350px;">Wide Angle Camera Filters </th></tr> <tr> <th scope="col" style="background:#e5e5e5; width:90px;">Name (pos) </th> <th style="background: #e5e5e5">Wavelength </th> <th style="background: #e5e5e5">Sensitivity </th></tr> <tr> <td>Clear (2, B) </td> <td>400–1000 nm </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Violet (6, F) </td> <td>420–440 nm </td> <td style="background: #2e00ff"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Blue (3, C) </td> <td>465–485 nm </td> <td style="background: #00d5ff"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Green (4, D) </td> <td>555–565 nm </td> <td style="background: #c0ff00"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Far Red (1, A) </td> <td>695–705 nm </td> <td style="background:#f00;"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>N-IR (7, G) </td> <td>745–755 nm </td> <td style="background: #a30000"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>N-IR (12, L) </td> <td>825–835 nm </td> <td style="background:#000; color:white;">N/A </td></tr> <tr> <td>N-IR (10, J) </td> <td>895–905 nm </td> <td style="background:#000; color:white;">N/A </td></tr> <tr> <td>N-IR (8, H) </td> <td>945–950 nm </td> <td style="background:#000; color:white;">N/A </td></tr> <tr> <td>N-IR (9, I) </td> <td>980–1010 nm </td> <td style="background:#000; color:white;">N/A </td></tr> <tr> <td>N-IR (11, K) </td> <td>975–1045 nm </td> <td style="background:#000; color:white;">N/A </td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr></tbody></table> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: Scott Murchie / Johns Hopkins University</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Gamma-Ray_Spectrometer_(GRS)"><span id="Gamma-Ray_Spectrometer_.28GRS.29"></span>Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_GRS_-_GRNS.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/MESSENGER_-_GRS_-_GRNS.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="205" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="205" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Measured <a href="/wiki/Gamma-ray" class="mw-redirect" title="Gamma-ray">gamma-ray</a> emissions from the surface of Mercury to determine the planet's composition by detecting certain elements (<a href="/wiki/Oxygen" title="Oxygen">oxygen</a>, <a href="/wiki/Silicon" title="Silicon">silicon</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sulphur" class="mw-redirect" title="Sulphur">sulfur</a>, <a href="/wiki/Iron" title="Iron">iron</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hydrogen" title="Hydrogen">hydrogen</a>, <a href="/wiki/Potassium" title="Potassium">potassium</a>, <a href="/wiki/Thorium" title="Thorium">thorium</a>, <a href="/wiki/Uranium" title="Uranium">uranium</a>) to a depth of 10 cm.<sup id="cite_ref-GRNSDescription_37-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-GRNSDescription-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCGRNS_38-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCGRNS-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-GRNSDescription_37-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-GRNSDescription-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Provide surface abundances of major elements.</li> <li>Provide surface abundances of Fe, Si, and K, infer alkali depletion from K abundances, and provide abundance limits on H (water ice) and S (if present) at the poles.</li> <li>Map surface element abundances where possible, and otherwise provide surface-averaged abundances or establish upper limits.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: William Boynton / University of Arizona</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Neutron_Spectrometer_(NS)"><span id="Neutron_Spectrometer_.28NS.29"></span>Neutron Spectrometer (NS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Neutron Spectrometer (NS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_NS.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/MESSENGER_-_NS.jpg/200px-MESSENGER_-_NS.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="104" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/MESSENGER_-_NS.jpg/300px-MESSENGER_-_NS.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/MESSENGER_-_NS.jpg 2x" data-file-width="357" data-file-height="186" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Determined the hydrogen mineral composition to a depth of 40 cm by detecting low-energy neutrons resulting from the collision of cosmic rays with the minerals.<sup id="cite_ref-GRNSDescription_37-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-GRNSDescription-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCGRNS_38-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCGRNS-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-GRNSDescription_37-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-GRNSDescription-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Establish and map the abundance of hydrogen over most of the northern hemisphere of Mercury.</li> <li>Investigate the possible presence of water ice within and near permanently shaded craters near the north pole.</li> <li>Provide secondary evidence to aid in interpreting GRS measured gamma-ray line strengths in terms of elemental abundances.</li> <li>Outline surface domains at the base of both northern and southern cusps of the magnetosphere where the solar wind can implant hydrogen in surface material.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: William Boynton / University of Arizona</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="X-Ray_Spectrometer_(XRS)"><span id="X-Ray_Spectrometer_.28XRS.29"></span><a href="/wiki/X-ray_spectroscopy" title="X-ray spectroscopy">X-Ray Spectrometer</a> (XRS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_XRS.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/MESSENGER_-_XRS.jpg/200px-MESSENGER_-_XRS.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="153" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/MESSENGER_-_XRS.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="250" data-file-height="191" /></a><figcaption>X-Ray spectrometer</figcaption></figure> <p>Mapped mineral composition within the top millimeter of the surface on Mercury by detecting <a href="/wiki/X-ray" title="X-ray">X-ray</a> <a href="/wiki/Spectral_line" title="Spectral line">spectral lines</a> from <a href="/wiki/Magnesium" title="Magnesium">magnesium</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aluminum" class="mw-redirect" title="Aluminum">aluminum</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sulphur" class="mw-redirect" title="Sulphur">sulphur</a>, <a href="/wiki/Calcium" title="Calcium">calcium</a>, <a href="/wiki/Titanium" title="Titanium">titanium</a>, and iron, in the 1–10 <a href="/wiki/Electronvolt" title="Electronvolt">keV</a> range.<sup id="cite_ref-XRSDescription_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-XRSDescription-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCXRS_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCXRS-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-XRSDescription_39-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-XRSDescription-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Determine the history of the formation of Mercury</li> <li>Characterize the composition of surface elements by measuring the X-ray emissions induced by the incident <a href="/wiki/Solar_flux" class="mw-redirect" title="Solar flux">solar flux</a>.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: George Ho / APL</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Magnetometer_(MAG)"><span id="Magnetometer_.28MAG.29"></span><a href="/wiki/Magnetometer" title="Magnetometer">Magnetometer</a> (MAG)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Magnetometer (MAG)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_MAG.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/MESSENGER_-_MAG.jpg/200px-MESSENGER_-_MAG.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/MESSENGER_-_MAG.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="250" data-file-height="188" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Measured the magnetic field around Mercury in detail to determine the strength and average position of the field.<sup id="cite_ref-MAGDescription_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MAGDescription-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCMAG_42-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCMAG-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-MAGDescription_41-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MAGDescription-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Investigate the structure of Mercury's <a href="/wiki/Magnetosphere_of_Mercury" class="mw-redirect" title="Magnetosphere of Mercury">magnetic field</a> and its interaction with the <a href="/wiki/Solar_wind" title="Solar wind">solar wind</a>.</li> <li>Characterize the geometry and time variability of the magnetospheric field.</li> <li>Detect wave-particle interactions with the magnetosphere.</li> <li>Observe magnetotail dynamics, including phenomena possibly analogous to substorms in the Earth's magnetosphere.</li> <li>Characterize the magnetopause structure and dynamics.</li> <li>Characterize field-aligned currents that link the planet with the magnetosphere.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: Mario Acuna / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Mercury_Laser_Altimeter_(MLA)"><span id="Mercury_Laser_Altimeter_.28MLA.29"></span>Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSEBGER_-_MLA.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/MESSEBGER_-_MLA.jpg/200px-MESSEBGER_-_MLA.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="180" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/MESSEBGER_-_MLA.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="250" data-file-height="225" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Provided detailed information regarding the height of landforms on the surface of Mercury by detecting the light of an infrared laser as the light bounced off the surface. <sup id="cite_ref-MLADescription_43-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MLADescription-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCMLA_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCMLA-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-MLADescription_43-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MLADescription-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Provide a high-precision topographic map of the high northern latitude regions.</li> <li>Measure the long-wavelength topographic features at mid-to-low northern latitudes.</li> <li>Determine topographic profiles across major geologic features in the northern hemisphere.</li> <li>Detect and quantify the planet's forced physical librations by tracking the motion of large-scale topographic features as a function of time.</li> <li>Measure the surface reflectivity of Mercury at the MLA operating wavelength of 1,064 nanometers.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: David Smith / GSFC</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Mercury_Atmospheric_and_Surface_Composition_Spectrometer_(MASCS)"><span id="Mercury_Atmospheric_and_Surface_Composition_Spectrometer_.28MASCS.29"></span>Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_MASCS.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/MESSENGER_-_MASCS.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="280" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="280" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Determined the characteristics of the <a href="/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mercury" title="Atmosphere of Mercury">tenuous atmosphere</a> surrounding Mercury by measuring ultraviolet light emissions, and ascertained the prevalence of iron and titanium minerals on the surface by measuring the <a href="/wiki/Reflectance" title="Reflectance">reflectance</a> of infrared light.<sup id="cite_ref-MASCSDescription_45-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MASCSDescription-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCMASCS_46-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCMASCS-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-MASCSDescription_45-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MASCSDescription-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Characterize the composition, structure, and temporal behavior of the exosphere.</li> <li>Investigate the processes that generate and maintain the exosphere.</li> <li>Determine the relationship between exospheric and surface composition.</li> <li>Search for polar deposits of volatile material, and determine how are the accumulation of these deposits are related to exospheric processes.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: William McClintock / University of Colorado<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Energetic_Particle_and_Plasma_Spectrometer_(EPPS)"><span id="Energetic_Particle_and_Plasma_Spectrometer_.28EPPS.29"></span>Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_EPPS.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/MESSENGER_-_EPPS.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="372" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="372" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>Measured the <a href="/wiki/Charged_particles" class="mw-redirect" title="Charged particles">charged particles</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Magnetosphere" title="Magnetosphere">magnetosphere</a> around Mercury using an energetic particle spectrometer (EPS) and the charged particles that come from the surface using a fast imaging plasma spectrometer (FIPS).<sup id="cite_ref-EPPSDescription_48-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-EPPSDescription-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCEPPS_49-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCEPPS-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-EPPSDescription_48-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-EPPSDescription-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Determine the structure of the planet's magnetic field.</li> <li>Characterize exosphere neutrals and accelerated magnetospheric ions.</li> <li>Determine the composition of the radar-reflective materials at Mercury's poles.</li> <li>Determine the electrical properties of the crust/atmosphere/environment interface.</li> <li>Determine characteristics of the dynamics of Mercury's magnetosphere and their relationships to external drivers and their internal conditions.</li> <li>Measure interplanetary plasma properties in cruise and in Mercury vicinity.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: Barry Mauk / APL</i></small></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Radio_Science_(RS)"><span id="Radio_Science_.28RS.29"></span>Radio Science (RS)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Radio Science (RS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Measured the gravity of Mercury and the state of the planetary core by utilizing the spacecraft's positioning data.<sup id="cite_ref-NSSDCRS_50-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NSSDCRS-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-RSDescription_51-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RSDescription-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Objectives:<sup id="cite_ref-RSDescription_51-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RSDescription-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Determine the position of the spacecraft during both the cruise and orbital phases of the mission.</li> <li>Observe gravitational perturbations from Mercury to investigate the spatial variations of density within the planet's interior, and a time-varying component in Mercury's gravity to quantify the amplitude of Mercury's <a href="/wiki/Libration" title="Libration">libration</a>.</li> <li>Provide precise measurements of the range of the <i>MESSENGER</i> spacecraft to the surface of Mercury for determining proper altitude mapping with the MLA.</li></ul> <dl><dd><small><i>Principal investigator: David Smith / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</i></small></dd></dl> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerycaption">Images of the spacecraft</li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Diagram of MESSENGER."><img alt="Diagram of MESSENGER" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png/153px-MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png" decoding="async" width="153" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png/231px-MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png/307px-MESSENGER_-_Sonda.png 2x" data-file-width="1533" data-file-height="1350" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Diagram of <i>MESSENGER</i>.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The assembly of MESSENGER's solar panels by APL technicians."><img alt="MESSENGER assembly installation of solar panels Astrotech" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg/175px-MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg/263px-MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg/350px-MESSENGER_-_installation_of_solar_panels.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3008" data-file-height="2000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The assembly of <i>MESSENGER</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'</span>s solar panels by APL technicians.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Technicians prepare MESSENGER for transfer to a hazardous processing facility."><img alt="Technicians prepare MESSENGER for transfer to a hazardous processing facility" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg/175px-MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg/263px-MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg/350px-MESSENGER_Assembly.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3008" data-file-height="2000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Technicians prepare <i>MESSENGER</i> for transfer to a hazardous processing facility.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Attachment of the PAM to MESSENGER. The ceramic-cloth sunshade is prominent in this view."><img alt="Attachment of the Payload Assist Module to MESSENGER. The ceramic-cloth sunshade is prominent in this view" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg/90px-MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg" decoding="async" width="90" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg/135px-MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg/179px-MESSENGER_04pd1465.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="3008" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Attachment of the <a href="/wiki/Payload_Assist_Module" title="Payload Assist Module">PAM</a> to <i>MESSENGER</i>. The ceramic-cloth sunshade is prominent in this view.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A suited worker looks over the hydrazine fuel supply to be loaded in MESSENGER."><img alt="A suited worker looks over the hydrazine fuel supply to be loaded in MESSENGER." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg/90px-Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg" decoding="async" width="90" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg/135px-Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg/179px-Hypergolic_Fuel_for_MESSENGER.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="3008" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A suited worker looks over the <a href="/wiki/Hydrazine" title="Hydrazine">hydrazine</a> fuel supply to be loaded in <i>MESSENGER</i>.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Mission_profile">Mission profile</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Mission profile"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table style="float: right;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2">Timeline of key events<sup id="cite_ref-ExMissionCompleted2013_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ExMissionCompleted2013-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NYT-20150427_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NYT-20150427-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-EarthFlyby_53-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-EarthFlyby-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MercuryFlyby1_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MercuryFlyby1-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MercuryFlyby2_55-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MercuryFlyby2-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MercuryFlyby3_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MercuryFlyby3-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MGROrbitInsert_57-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MGROrbitInsert-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </th></tr> <tr> <td> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; margin:auto; border:0 solid #e6e6e6;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr> <th scope="col" style="width:75px;">Date </th> <th scope="col" style="width:350px;">Event </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">August 3, 2004</div> </td> <td style="background:#f2f2f2;"><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Spacecraft launched at 06:15:56 UTC</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">August 2, 2005</div> </td> <td> <table class="collapsible collapsed" align="center" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color:#e9e9e9;font-weight:normal;"><span style="padding-left:2em;"> </span> Flyby encounter with Earth </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr style="background-color:#e0e0e0"> <th scope="col" width="75">Time </th> <th scope="col" width="230">Event <span style="padding-left:6em;"> </span> </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>August 2, 2005</b></div> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">13:00:00</div> </td> <td>Rotate spacecraft (turning sunshade toward the Sun) </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">13:16:00</div> </td> <td>Energetic Particle Spectrometer begins Earth observations. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">13:38:00</div> </td> <td>Start MDIS color images of South America (set 1). </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">16:55:00</div> </td> <td>Start MDIS color images of South America (set 2). </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">19:13:08</div> </td> <td>Earth closest approach at 2,348 km. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">20:20:00</div> </td> <td>Rotate spacecraft (sunshade away from the Sun) </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">20:20:00</div> </td> <td>Start MDIS color imaging sequence of Amazon Basin </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">22:16:00</div> </td> <td>Start MDIS color image sequence for <a href="/wiki/File:Mdis_depart_anot.ogv" title="File:Mdis depart anot.ogv">departure "movie"</a>. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>August 3, 2005</b></div> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">23:38:00</div> </td> <td>End MDIS color image sequence for departure "movie". </td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">October 24, 2006</div> </td> <td> <table class="collapsible collapsed" align="center" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color:#e9e9e9;font-weight:normal;"><span style="padding-left:2em;"> </span> Flyby encounters with Venus </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr style="background-color:#e0e0e0"> <th scope="col" width="75">Time </th> <th scope="col" width="230">Event <span style="padding-left:6em;"> </span> </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>October 24, 2006</b></div> </td> <td><b>First encounter with Venus</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">08:34:00</div> </td> <td>Venus closest approach at 2,987 km. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">08:52:00</div> </td> <td>Venus occultation entry. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">14:15:00</div> </td> <td>Venus occultation exit. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>June 5, 2007</b></div> </td> <td><b>Second encounter with Venus</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">23:08:00</div> </td> <td>Venus closest approach at 313 km. </td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">January 14, 2008</div> </td> <td> <table class="collapsible collapsed" align="center" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color:#e9e9e9;font-weight:normal;"><span style="padding-left:2em;"> </span> Flyby encounters with Mercury </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr style="background-color:#e0e0e0"> <th scope="col" width="75">Time </th> <th scope="col" width="230">Event <span style="padding-left:6em;"> </span> </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <hr /> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>January 14, 2008</b></div> </td> <td><b>First encounter with Mercury</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">19:04:39</div> </td> <td>Mercury closest approach at 200 km </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>October 2, 2008</b></div> </td> <td><b>Second encounter with Mercury</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">03:30:00</div> </td> <td>First of eight Optical Navigation images taken on approach. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>October 5, 2008</b></div> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">18:00:00</div> </td> <td>Last of eight Optical Navigation images taken on approach. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">22:25:00</div> </td> <td>Start encounter imaging sequence, beacon-only tracking of probe begins. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>October 6, 2008</b></div> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">08:25:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury shadow entry </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">08:40:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury closest approach at 200 km </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">08:42:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury shadow exit </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>October 7, 2010</b></div> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">05:43:00</div> </td> <td>Start playback of data </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>September 28, 2009</b></div> </td> <td><b>Third encounter with Mercury</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">14:24:00</div> </td> <td>Start encounter imaging sequence, beacon-only tracking of probe begins. </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><b>September 29, 2009</b></div> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">21:41:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury shadow entry </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">21:55:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury closest approach at 228 km </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">21:59:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury shadow exit </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">22:03:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury <a href="/wiki/Occultation" title="Occultation">occultation</a> entry </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">22:54:00</div> </td> <td>Mercury occultation exit </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">03:32:00</div> </td> <td>Start playback of data </td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">March 18, 2011</div> </td> <td style="background:#f2f2f2;"><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Mercury orbital insertion</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">March 17, 2012</div> </td> <td style="background:#f2f2f2;"><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Commencement of first extended mission</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">March 17, 2013</div> </td> <td style="background:#f2f2f2;"><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Completion of first extended mission/<br />Commencement of second extended mission</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><i>April 30, 2015</i></div> </td> <td style="background:#f2f2f2;"><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><i>End of mission</i></div> </td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Launch_and_trajectory">Launch and trajectory</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Launch and trajectory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <i>MESSENGER</i> probe was launched on August 3, 2004, at 06:15:56 UTC by <a href="/wiki/National_Aeronautics_and_Space_Administration" class="mw-redirect" title="National Aeronautics and Space Administration">NASA</a> from <a href="/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station_Space_Launch_Complex_17" class="mw-redirect" title="Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17">Space Launch Complex 17B</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station" class="mw-redirect" title="Cape Canaveral Air Force Station">Cape Canaveral Air Force Station</a> in Florida, aboard a <a href="/wiki/Delta_II" title="Delta II">Delta II 7925</a> 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 (4.9 billion mi) trajectory that took 6 years, 7 months and 16 days before its orbital insertion on March 18, 2011.<sup id="cite_ref-MESSENGERLaunch_29-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MESSENGERLaunch-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Traveling to Mercury and entering orbit requires an extremely large velocity change (<i>see <a href="/wiki/Delta-v" title="Delta-v">delta-v</a></i>) because Mercury's orbit is deep in the Sun's <a href="/wiki/Gravity_well" class="mw-redirect" title="Gravity well">gravity well</a>. 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 <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mars" title="Mars">Mars</a>, spacecraft can minimize their fuel consumption upon arrival by using friction with the atmosphere to enter orbit (<a href="/wiki/Aerocapture" title="Aerocapture">aerocapture</a>), or can briefly fire their rocket engines to enter into orbit followed by a reduction of the orbit by <a href="/wiki/Aerobraking" title="Aerobraking">aerobraking</a>. However, the tenuous <a href="/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mercury" title="Atmosphere of Mercury">atmosphere of Mercury</a> is far too thin for these maneuvers. Instead, <i>MESSENGER</i> extensively used <a href="/wiki/Gravity_assist" title="Gravity assist">gravity assist</a> 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 7.9 billion kilometers (4.9 billion miles). </p><p>Several planned thruster firings en route to Mercury were unnecessary, because these fine course adjustments were performed using solar radiation pressure acting on MESSENGER's solar panels.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> To further minimize the amount of necessary propellant, the spacecraft orbital insertion targeted a highly <a href="/wiki/Elliptical_orbit" class="mw-redirect" title="Elliptical orbit">elliptical orbit</a> around Mercury. </p><p>The elongated orbit had two other benefits: It allowed the spacecraft time to cool after the times it was between the hot surface of Mercury and the Sun, and also it allowed the spacecraft to measure the effects of <a href="/wiki/Solar_wind" title="Solar wind">solar wind</a> and the magnetic fields of the planet at various distances while still allowing close-up measurements and photographs of the surface and exosphere. The spacecraft was originally scheduled to launch during a 12-day window that beginning May 11, 2004. On March 26, 2004, NASA announced the launch would be moved to a later, 15-day launch window beginning July 30, 2004, to allow for further testing of the spacecraft.<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This change significantly altered the trajectory of the mission and delayed the arrival at Mercury by two years. The original plan called for three fly-by maneuvers past Venus, with Mercury orbit insertion scheduled for 2009. The trajectory was changed to include one Earth flyby, two Venus flybys, and three Mercury flybys before <a href="/wiki/Orbit_insertion" title="Orbit insertion">orbit insertion</a> on March 18, 2011.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Exploded diagram of Delta II launch vehicle with MESSENGER"><img alt="Exploded launch configuration diagram with MESSENGER and Delta 2 rocket" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png/166px-MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png" decoding="async" width="166" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png/250px-MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png/332px-MESSENGER_-_exploded_launch_vehicle_diagram.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="975" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Exploded diagram of Delta II launch vehicle with <i>MESSENGER</i></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The launch of MESSENGER on a Delta II launch vehicle."><img alt="The launch of MESSENGER on a Delta II launch vehicle" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg/100px-MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg/150px-MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg/200px-MESSENGER_launch_on_Delta_7925_rocket.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2225" data-file-height="3000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The launch of <i>MESSENGER</i> on a Delta II launch vehicle.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif" class="mw-file-description" title="Animation of MESSENGER's trajectory from August 3, 2004, to May 1, 2015    MESSENGER  ·   Earth ·   Mercury  ·   Venus"><img alt="Animation of MESSENGER's trajectory from August 3, 2004, to May 1, 2015    MESSENGER  ·   Earth ·   Mercury  ·   Venus" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif/175px-Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif" decoding="async" width="175" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif/263px-Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif/350px-Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory.gif 2x" data-file-width="560" data-file-height="420" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Animation of <i>MESSENGER</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'s</span> trajectory from August 3, 2004, to May 1, 2015<br /><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r981673959">.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}</style><span class="legend nowrap"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:magenta; color:black;"> </span>  <i>MESSENGER</i> </span> <b>·</b> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend nowrap"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:Royalblue; color:white;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a></span> <b>·</b> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend nowrap"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:Lime; color:black;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a></span>  <b>·</b> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend nowrap"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color: Cyan ; color:black;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a></span></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_trajectory.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Interplanetary trajectory of the MESSENGER orbiter."><img alt="Interplanetary trajectory of MESSENGER orbiter" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/MESSENGER_trajectory.svg/175px-MESSENGER_trajectory.svg.png" decoding="async" width="175" height="130" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/MESSENGER_trajectory.svg/263px-MESSENGER_trajectory.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/MESSENGER_trajectory.svg/350px-MESSENGER_trajectory.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="759" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Interplanetary trajectory of the <i>MESSENGER</i> orbiter.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Earth_flyby">Earth flyby</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Earth flyby"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Earth_observation_satellite" title="Earth observation satellite">Earth observation satellite</a></div> <p><i>MESSENGER</i> performed an Earth <a href="/wiki/Gravity_assist" title="Gravity assist">flyby</a> one year after launch, on August 2, 2005, with the closest approach at 19:13 <a href="/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time" title="Coordinated Universal Time">UTC</a> at an altitude of 2,347 kilometers (1,458 statute miles) over central <a href="/wiki/Mongolia" title="Mongolia">Mongolia</a>. 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 by 316 m/s.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the Earth flyby, the <i>MESSENGER</i> 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 was intended to ensure accurate interpretation of data when the spacecraft entered orbit around Mercury. Ensuring that the instruments functioned correctly at such an early stage in the mission allowed opportunity for multiple minor errors to be dealt with.<sup id="cite_ref-MGREarthFlyby_62-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MGREarthFlyby-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Earth flyby was used to investigate the <a href="/wiki/Flyby_anomaly" title="Flyby anomaly">flyby anomaly</a>, where some spacecraft have been observed to have trajectories that differ slightly from those predicted. However no anomaly was observed in MESSENGER's flyby.<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGERearth.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby."><img alt="A view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/MESSENGERearth.jpg/135px-MESSENGERearth.jpg" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/MESSENGERearth.jpg/204px-MESSENGERearth.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/MESSENGERearth.jpg/271px-MESSENGERearth.jpg 2x" data-file-width="931" data-file-height="928" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A view of Earth from <i>MESSENGER</i> during its Earth flyby.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby."><img alt="Another view of Earth from MESSENGER during its Earth flyby" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg/175px-View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg/263px-View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg/350px-View_of_Earth_from_MESSENGER.jpg 2x" data-file-width="990" data-file-height="681" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A view of Earth from <i>MESSENGER</i> during its Earth flyby.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png" class="mw-file-description" title="The Earth and Moon (lower left), captured by MESSENGER from a distance of 183 million kilometers."><img alt="The Earth and Moon captured by the MESSENGER Wide Angle Camera from a distance of 183 million kilometers" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png/134px-Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png" decoding="async" width="134" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png/202px-Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png/268px-Earth_and_Moon_seen_from_183_million_kilometers_by_MESSENGER.png 2x" data-file-width="1018" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The <a href="/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a> and <a href="/wiki/Moon" title="Moon">Moon</a> (lower left), captured by <i>MESSENGER</i> from a distance of 183 million kilometers.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv/148px--Mdis_depart_anot.ogv.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="148" height="135" data-durationhint="12" data-mwtitle="Mdis_depart_anot.ogv" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv" type="video/ogg; codecs="theora"" data-width="400" data-height="366" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e0/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="158" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e0/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="262" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e0/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="394" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e0/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv/Mdis_depart_anot.ogv.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="394" data-height="360" /></video></span></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Earth flyby sequence captured on August 3, 2005 (<a href="/wiki/File:Mdis_depart_anot.ogv" title="File:Mdis depart anot.ogv">Full-size video</a>).</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Two_Venus_flybys">Two Venus flybys</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Two Venus flybys"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Exploration_of_Venus" class="mw-redirect" title="Exploration of Venus">Exploration of Venus</a></div> <p>On October 24, 2006, at 08:34 UTC, <i>MESSENGER</i> encountered Venus at an altitude of 2,992 kilometers (1,859 mi). During the encounter, <i>MESSENGER</i> passed behind Venus and entered <a href="/wiki/Superior_conjunction" class="mw-redirect" title="Superior conjunction">superior conjunction</a>, 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.<sup id="cite_ref-MGRVenusFlyby1_64-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MGRVenusFlyby1-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On June 5, 2007, at 23:08 UTC, <i>MESSENGER</i> 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 <a href="/wiki/Infrared" title="Infrared">near-infrared</a> imaging data of the upper <a href="/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Venus" title="Atmosphere of Venus">atmosphere of Venus</a>. <a href="/wiki/Ultraviolet" title="Ultraviolet">Ultraviolet</a> and X-ray <a href="/wiki/Spectrometer" title="Spectrometer">spectrometry</a> of the upper atmosphere were also recorded, to characterize the composition. The <a href="/wiki/ESA" class="mw-redirect" title="ESA">ESA</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a> was also orbiting during the encounter, providing the first opportunity for simultaneous measurement of particle-and-field characteristics of the planet.<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Venus imaged by MESSENGER on its first flyby of the planet in 2006."><img alt="Venus Imaged by MESSENGER on the first flyby of the planet" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg/175px-MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="88" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg/263px-MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg/350px-MESSENGERvenus1approach.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1048" data-file-height="528" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Venus imaged by <i>MESSENGER</i> on its first flyby of the planet in 2006.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Venus imaged by MESSENGER on its second flyby of the planet in 2007."><img alt="Venus imaged by MESSENGER on the second flyby of the planet" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg/132px-Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg" decoding="async" width="132" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg/198px-Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg/264px-Venus_2_Approach_Image.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Venus imaged by <i>MESSENGER</i> on its second flyby of the planet in 2007.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A more detailed image of Venus MESSENGER on the second flyby of the planet."><img alt="A more detailed image of Venus by MESSENGER on the second flyby of the planet" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg/135px-MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg/203px-MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg/270px-MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="525" data-file-height="525" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A more detailed image of Venus <i>MESSENGER</i> on the second flyby of the planet.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Sequence of images as MESSENGER departs after the second flyby of the planet."><img alt="Sequence of images as MESSENGER departs after the second flyby of the planet" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg/87px-MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg" decoding="async" width="87" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg/130px-MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg/173px-MESSENGER_-_Venus2_departure_seq.jpg 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="980" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Sequence of images as <i>MESSENGER</i> departs after the second flyby of the planet.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Three_Mercury_flybys">Three Mercury flybys</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Three Mercury flybys"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Exploration_of_Mercury" title="Exploration of Mercury">Exploration of Mercury</a></div> <p><i>MESSENGER</i> made a flyby of Mercury on January 14, 2008 (making its closest approach of 200 km above the surface of Mercury at 19:04:39 <a href="/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time" title="Coordinated Universal Time">UTC</a>), followed by a second flyby on October 6, 2008.<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl1_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl1-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>MESSENGER</i> executed a final flyby on September 29, 2009, further slowing down the spacecraft.<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl2_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl2-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl3_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl3-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Sometime during the closest approach of the last flyby, the spacecraft entered <a href="/wiki/Safe_mode_(spacecraft)" class="mw-redirect" title="Safe mode (spacecraft)">safe mode</a>. 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 seven hours later.<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One last deep space maneuver, DSM-5, was executed on November 24, 2009, at 22:45 UTC to provide the required 0.177 kilometres per second (0.110 mi/s) velocity change for the scheduled Mercury orbit insertion on March 18, 2011, marking the beginning of the orbital mission.<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png" class="mw-file-description" title="The first high-resolution color Wide Angle Camera image of Mercury acquired by MESSENGER."><img alt="The first high-resolution color Wide Angle Camera image of Mercury acquired by MESSENGER" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png/135px-Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png/203px-Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png/270px-Mercury_in_color_c1000_700_430.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The first high-resolution color Wide Angle Camera image of Mercury acquired by <i>MESSENGER</i>.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Mercury from later in the first flyby, showing many previously unknown features"><img alt="Mercury from later in the first flyby" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg/135px-MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg/203px-MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg/270px-MESSENGER_first_photo_of_unseen_side_of_mercury.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Mercury from later in the first flyby, showing many previously unknown features</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png" class="mw-file-description" title="View from the second flyby in October 2008, with Kuiper crater near center"><img alt="View from the second flyby in October 2008" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png/135px-CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png/203px-CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png/270px-CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">View from the second flyby in October 2008, with Kuiper crater near center</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Smooth plains of Borealis Planitia imaged by MESSENGER during the third flyby of the planet."><img alt="Smooth plains on Mercury imaged by MESSENGER during the third flyby of the planet." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png/134px-MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png" decoding="async" width="134" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png/202px-MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png/268px-MESSENGER_-_CN0162744010M_RA_3_web.png 2x" data-file-width="1018" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Smooth plains of <a href="/wiki/Borealis_Planitia" title="Borealis Planitia">Borealis Planitia</a> imaged by <i>MESSENGER</i> during the third flyby of the planet.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png" class="mw-file-description" title="An image of part of the previously unseen side of the planet."><img alt="An image of part of the previously unseen side of the planet" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png/134px-MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png" decoding="async" width="134" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png/201px-MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png/268px-MESSENGER_EN0108828359M.png 2x" data-file-width="1016" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">An image of part of the previously unseen side of the planet.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Lava-flooded craters and large expanses of smooth volcanic plains on Mercury."><img alt="Lava-flooded craters and large expanses of smooth volcanic plains on Mercury." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg/175px-MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg/263px-MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg/350px-MESSENGER_-_BV_Microsymposium49.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="1980" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Lava-flooded craters and large expanses of smooth volcanic plains on Mercury.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Rachmaninoff_crater.png" class="mw-file-description" title="View with Rachmaninoff crater, from third flyby"><img alt="A photo of Mercury with Rachmaninoff crater centered" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Rachmaninoff_crater.png/175px-Rachmaninoff_crater.png" decoding="async" width="175" height="128" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Rachmaninoff_crater.png/263px-Rachmaninoff_crater.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Rachmaninoff_crater.png/350px-Rachmaninoff_crater.png 2x" data-file-width="1908" data-file-height="1391" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">View with <a href="/wiki/Rachmaninoff_(crater)" title="Rachmaninoff (crater)">Rachmaninoff crater</a>, from third flyby</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Orbital_insertion">Orbital insertion</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Orbital insertion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The thruster maneuver to insert the probe into Mercury's orbit began at 00:45 UTC on March 18, 2011. The 0.9 km/s (0.5 mi./sec.) braking maneuver lasted about 15 minutes, with confirmation that the craft was in Mercury orbit received at 01:10 UTC on March 18 (9:10 PM, March 17 EDT).<sup id="cite_ref-MGROrbitInsert_57-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MGROrbitInsert-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Mission lead engineer Eric Finnegan indicated that the spacecraft had achieved a near-perfect orbit.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><i>MESSENGER'</i>s orbit was highly elliptical, taking it within 200 kilometers (120 miles) of Mercury's surface and then 15,000 km (9,300 miles) 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 was at a low altitude, where the spacecraft was subjected to radiative heating from the hot side of the planet.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif" class="mw-file-description" title="Animation of MESSENGER's trajectory around Mercury from March 15, 2011, to December 30, 2014    MESSENGER ·   Mercury"><img alt="Animation of MESSENGER's trajectory around Mercury from March 15, 2011, to December 30, 2014    MESSENGER ·   Mercury" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif/175px-Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif" decoding="async" width="175" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif/263px-Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif/350px-Animation_of_MESSENGER_trajectory_around_Mercury.gif 2x" data-file-width="560" data-file-height="420" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Animation of <i>MESSENGER</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'s</span> trajectory around <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a> from March 15, 2011, to December 30, 2014<br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend nowrap"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:magenta; color:black;"> </span>  <i>MESSENGER</i></span> <b>·</b> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend nowrap"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:Royalblue; color:white;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a></span></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGERannouncement.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Charles Bolden and colleagues wait for news from the MESSENGER probe."><img alt="Charles Bolden and colleagues wait for news from MESSENGER." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/MESSENGERannouncement.jpg/160px-MESSENGERannouncement.jpg" decoding="async" width="160" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/MESSENGERannouncement.jpg/241px-MESSENGERannouncement.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/MESSENGERannouncement.jpg/320px-MESSENGERannouncement.jpg 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="422" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Charles_F._Bolden,_Jr." class="mw-redirect" title="Charles F. Bolden, Jr.">Charles Bolden</a> and colleagues wait for news from the <i>MESSENGER</i> probe.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Charles Bolden congratulates Eric Finnegan following the successful orbital insertion."><img alt="Charles Bolden congratulates Eric Finnegan as the spacecraft successfully inserted itself in Mercury's orbit." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg/175px-Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg/263px-Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg/350px-Celebrating_Mercury_Orbit.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3428" data-file-height="2571" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Charles Bolden congratulates Eric Finnegan following the successful orbital insertion.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The first-ever photograph from Mercury orbit, taken by MESSENGER on March 29, 2011."><img alt="The first-ever photograph from Mercury orbit, taken by MESSENGER on March 29, 2011." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg/135px-First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg/203px-First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg/270px-First_ever_photograph_from_Mercury_orbit.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The first-ever photograph from Mercury orbit, taken by <i>MESSENGER</i> on March 29, 2011.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A simplified chart showing the path of MESSENGER's orbital insertion."><img alt="A Chart of MESSENGER's Orbital Insertion" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg/100px-MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg/150px-MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg/200px-MercuryOrbitInsertionDirectionofSunFull.jpg 2x" data-file-width="348" data-file-height="469" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A simplified chart showing the path of <i>MESSENGER</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'</span>s orbital insertion.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Primary_science">Primary science</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Primary science"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>After <i>MESSENGER'</i>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.<sup id="cite_ref-OrbitInsertionPressKit_70-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-OrbitInsertionPressKit-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The commissioning phase "demonstrated that the spacecraft and payload [were] all operating nominally, notwithstanding Mercury's challenging environment."<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl_33-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The primary mission began as planned on April 4, 2011, with <i>MESSENGER</i> orbiting Mercury once every twelve hours for an intended duration of twelve Earth months, the equivalent of two <a href="/wiki/Solar_day" class="mw-redirect" title="Solar day">solar days</a> on Mercury.<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl_33-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Principal Investigator Sean Solomon, then of the <a href="/wiki/Carnegie_Institution_of_Washington" class="mw-redirect" title="Carnegie Institution of Washington">Carnegie Institution of Washington</a>, 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."<sup id="cite_ref-jhuapl_33-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jhuapl-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On October 5, 2011, the scientific results obtained by <i>MESSENGER</i> during its first six terrestrial months in Mercury's orbit were presented in a series of papers at the European Planetary Science Congress in <a href="/wiki/Nantes" title="Nantes">Nantes</a>, France.<sup id="cite_ref-Nantes5_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nantes5-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Among the discoveries presented were the unexpectedly high concentrations of <a href="/wiki/Magnesium" title="Magnesium">magnesium</a> and <a href="/wiki/Calcium" title="Calcium">calcium</a> found on Mercury's nightside, and the fact that Mercury's <a href="/wiki/Magnetic_field" title="Magnetic field">magnetic field</a> is offset far to the north of the planet's center.<sup id="cite_ref-Nantes5_20-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nantes5-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG" class="mw-file-description" title="A monochrome image of Mercury from MESSENGER, with Warhol at center."><img alt="A Monochrome view of Mercury from MESSENGER" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG/175px-MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG" decoding="async" width="175" height="126" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG/263px-MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG/350px-MESSENGERmercurylimb.PNG 2x" data-file-width="1413" data-file-height="1017" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A <a href="/wiki/Monochrome" title="Monochrome">monochrome</a> image of Mercury from <i>MESSENGER</i>, with <a href="/wiki/Warhol_(crater)" title="Warhol (crater)">Warhol</a> at center.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Stevenson_crater_(MESSENGER).png" class="mw-file-description" title="Stevenson crater, with two perpendicular secondary crater chains running through its center."><img alt="Crater Stevenson, with crater chains forming an 'x' across its surface" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Stevenson_crater_%28MESSENGER%29.png/136px-Stevenson_crater_%28MESSENGER%29.png" decoding="async" width="136" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Stevenson_crater_%28MESSENGER%29.png/205px-Stevenson_crater_%28MESSENGER%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Stevenson_crater_%28MESSENGER%29.png/272px-Stevenson_crater_%28MESSENGER%29.png 2x" data-file-width="501" data-file-height="497" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Stevenson_(crater)" title="Stevenson (crater)">Stevenson</a> crater, with two perpendicular <a href="/wiki/Secondary_crater" title="Secondary crater">secondary</a> <a href="/wiki/Crater_chain" title="Crater chain">crater chains</a> running through its center.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGERsouthpole.png" class="mw-file-description" title="A south polar projection of Mercury."><img alt="A South Polar Projection of Mercury" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/MESSENGERsouthpole.png/135px-MESSENGERsouthpole.png" decoding="async" width="135" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/MESSENGERsouthpole.png/203px-MESSENGERsouthpole.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/MESSENGERsouthpole.png/270px-MESSENGERsouthpole.png 2x" data-file-width="1148" data-file-height="1148" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A south <a href="/wiki/Polar_projection" class="mw-redirect" title="Polar projection">polar projection</a> of Mercury.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGERridges.png" class="mw-file-description" title="A close snapshot of ridges near Mercury's south pole."><img alt="A close snapshot of Ridges near the South Pole" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/MESSENGERridges.png/162px-MESSENGERridges.png" decoding="async" width="162" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/MESSENGERridges.png/244px-MESSENGERridges.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/MESSENGERridges.png/324px-MESSENGERridges.png 2x" data-file-width="3564" data-file-height="2967" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A close snapshot of ridges near Mercury's south pole.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A MESSENGER image of Mercury shows previously undetected fault scarps— cliff-like landforms resembling stairs that are small enough that scientists believe they are geologically young. This shows that Mercury is still contracting, and that Earth is not the only tectonically active Solar System planet."><img alt="A MESSENGER image of Mercury shows previously undetected fault scarps— cliff-like landforms resembling stairs that are small enough that scientists believe they are geologically young. This shows that Mercury is still contracting, and that Earth is not the only tectonically active Solar System planet." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg/116px-Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg" decoding="async" width="116" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg/174px-Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg/232px-Tectonically_Active_Planet_Mercury.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1500" data-file-height="1748" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A <i>MESSENGER</i> image of Mercury shows previously undetected fault scarps— cliff-like landforms resembling stairs that are small enough that scientists believe they are geologically young. This shows that Mercury is still contracting, and that Earth is not the only tectonically active Solar System planet.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Extended_mission">Extended mission</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Extended mission"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MercuryTopo.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/MercuryTopo.png/220px-MercuryTopo.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="158" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/MercuryTopo.png/330px-MercuryTopo.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/MercuryTopo.png/440px-MercuryTopo.png 2x" data-file-width="3650" data-file-height="2626" /></a><figcaption>Topography of Mercury based on MDIS (Mercury Dual Imaging System) data</figcaption></figure> <p>In November 2011, NASA announced that the <i>MESSENGER</i> mission would be extended by one year, allowing the spacecraft to observe the 2012 <a href="/wiki/Solar_maximum" title="Solar maximum">solar maximum</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Extended2013_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Extended2013-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Its extended mission began on March 17, 2012, and continued until March 17, 2013. Between April 16 and 20, 2012, <i>MESSENGER</i> carried out a series of thruster manoeuvres, placing it in an eight-hour orbit to conduct further scans of Mercury.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In November 2012, NASA reported that <i>MESSENGER</i> had discovered a possibility of both <a href="/wiki/Ice" title="Ice">water ice</a> and organic compounds in permanently shadowed craters in Mercury's north pole.<sup id="cite_ref-IceonMercury_21-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-IceonMercury-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In February 2013, NASA published the most detailed and accurate 3D map of Mercury to date, assembled from thousands of images taken by <i>MESSENGER</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>MESSENGER</i> completed its first extended mission on March 17, 2013,<sup id="cite_ref-ExMissionCompleted2013_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ExMissionCompleted2013-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and its second lasted until April 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-200,000ImagesSurpassed_19-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-200,000ImagesSurpassed-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In November 2013, <i>MESSENGER</i> was among the numerous space assets that imaged <a href="/wiki/Comet_Encke" title="Comet Encke">Comet Encke</a> (2P/Encke) and <a href="/wiki/Comet_ISON" title="Comet ISON">Comet ISON</a> (C/2012 S1).<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NASA-20131206_77-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA-20131206-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ARXIV-20140508_78-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARXIV-20140508-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As its orbit began to decay in early 2015, <i>MESSENGER</i> was able to take highly detailed close-up photographs of ice-filled craters and other landforms at Mercury's north pole.<sup id="cite_ref-DyingGifts_79-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DyingGifts-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>79<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After the mission was completed, review of the radio ranging data provided the first measurement of the rate of mass loss from the Sun.<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>80<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="False-color map showing maximum temperatures of north polar region."><img alt="False-color map showing maximum temperatures of north polar region." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg/175px-PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="133" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg/263px-PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg/350px-PIA19247-Mercury-NPolarRegion-Messenger20150316.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2044" data-file-height="1550" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">False-color map showing maximum temperatures of north polar region.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Crater Apollodorus, with the Pantheon Fossae radiating from it."><img alt="Crater Apollodorus, with the Pantheon Fossae radiating from it." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg/134px-Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg" decoding="async" width="134" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg/201px-Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg/268px-Crater_Apollodorus_and_Pantheon_Fossae.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1016" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Crater <a href="/wiki/Apollodorus_(crater)" title="Apollodorus (crater)">Apollodorus</a>, with the <a href="/wiki/Pantheon_Fossae" title="Pantheon Fossae">Pantheon Fossae</a> radiating from it.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:EW1026656707Gnomap.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Crater rays streaking across the planet's southern hemisphere."><img alt="Crater rays streaking across the planet's southern hemisphere." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/EW1026656707Gnomap.png/134px-EW1026656707Gnomap.png" decoding="async" width="134" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/EW1026656707Gnomap.png/202px-EW1026656707Gnomap.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/EW1026656707Gnomap.png/269px-EW1026656707Gnomap.png 2x" data-file-width="1020" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Ray_system" title="Ray system">Crater rays</a> streaking across the planet's southern hemisphere.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Hollows in the wall of crater Sholem Aleichem.[81][82]"><img alt="Hollows in the wall of crater Sholem Aleichem.[81][82]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg/134px-Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg" decoding="async" width="134" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg/202px-Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg/269px-Hollows_in_Sholem_Aleichem.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1020" data-file-height="1024" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Hollows_(Mercury)" title="Hollows (Mercury)">Hollows</a> in the wall of crater <a href="/wiki/Sholem_Aleichem_(crater)" title="Sholem Aleichem (crater)">Sholem Aleichem</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-81"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>81<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Lakdawalla2014.02.18_82-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Lakdawalla2014.02.18-82"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>82<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 210px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 205px; height: 165px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Perspective view of Caloris Basin – high (red); low (blue)."><img alt="Perspective view of Caloris Basin – high (red); low (blue)." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg/175px-PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg/263px-PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg/350px-PIA19450-PlanetMercury-CalorisBasin-20150501.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5057" data-file-height="3272" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Perspective view of <a href="/wiki/Caloris_Basin" class="mw-redirect" title="Caloris Basin">Caloris Basin</a> – high (red); low (blue).</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Discovery_of_water,_organic_compounds_and_volcanism"><span id="Discovery_of_water.2C_organic_compounds_and_volcanism"></span>Discovery of water, organic compounds and volcanism</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Discovery of water, organic compounds and volcanism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On July 3, 2008, the <i>MESSENGER</i> team announced that the probe had discovered large amounts of water present in Mercury's <a href="/wiki/Exosphere" title="Exosphere">exosphere</a>, which was an unexpected finding.<sup id="cite_ref-planetary_society_83-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-planetary_society-83"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>83<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the later years of its mission, <i>MESSENGER</i> also provided visual evidence of past volcanic activity on the surface of Mercury,<sup id="cite_ref-Volcanism_2011_84-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Volcanism_2011-84"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>84<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> as well as evidence for a liquid iron <a href="/wiki/Planetary_core" title="Planetary core">planetary core</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-planetary_society_83-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-planetary_society-83"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>83<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The probe also constructed the most detailed and accurate maps of Mercury to date, and furthermore discovered carbon-containing <a href="/wiki/Organic_compound" title="Organic compound">organic compounds</a> and water ice inside permanently shadowed craters near the north pole.<sup id="cite_ref-results_2015_85-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-results_2015-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center" style="font-size:95%; line-height:130%"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Mass concentrations (red; Caloris Basin at center, Sobkou Planitia at right), detected via gravity anomalies, provide evidence for subsurface structure and evolution."><img alt="Mass concentrations (red; Caloris Basin at center, Sobkou Planitia at right), detected via gravity anomalies, provide evidence for subsurface structure and evolution." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg/200px-Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg/300px-Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg/400px-Gravity_Anomalies_on_Mercury.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2400" data-file-height="2400" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Mass_concentration_(astronomy)" title="Mass concentration (astronomy)">Mass concentrations</a> (red; <a href="/wiki/Caloris_Basin" class="mw-redirect" title="Caloris Basin">Caloris Basin</a> at center, <a href="/wiki/Sobkou_Planitia" title="Sobkou Planitia">Sobkou Planitia</a> at right), detected via gravity anomalies, provide evidence for subsurface structure and evolution.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Northern hemisphere topography from MLA data shows a 10 km vertical range: high (red); low (purple)."><img alt="Northern hemisphere topography from MLA data shows a 10 km vertical range: high (red); low (purple)." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg/200px-PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg/300px-PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg/400px-PIA19420-Mercury-NorthHem-Topography-MLA-Messenger-20150416.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3750" data-file-height="3752" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Northern hemisphere topography from <a class="mw-selflink-fragment" href="#Scientific_instruments">MLA</a> data shows a 10 km vertical range: high (red); low (purple).</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="MASCS spectral scan of Mercury's surface."><img alt="MASCS spectral scan of Mercury's surface." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg/200px-Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg/300px-Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg/400px-Unmasking_the_Secrets_of_Mercury.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2500" data-file-height="2500" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a class="mw-selflink-fragment" href="#Scientific_instruments">MASCS</a> spectral scan of Mercury's surface.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 235px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 230px; height: 230px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Water ice (yellow) in permanently shaded craters of Mercury's north polar region"><img alt="Water ice (yellow) in permanently shaded craters of Mercury's north polar region" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg/200px-PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="109" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg/300px-PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg/400px-PIA19411-Mercury-WaterIce-Radar-MDIS-Messenger-20150416.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="2179" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Geology_of_Mercury#High-albedo_polar_patches_and_possible_presence_of_ice" title="Geology of Mercury">Water ice</a> (yellow) in <a href="/wiki/Crater_of_eternal_darkness" class="mw-redirect" title="Crater of eternal darkness">permanently shaded craters</a> of Mercury's north polar region</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Solar_System_portrait">Solar System portrait</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Solar System portrait"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Family_Portrait_(MESSENGER)" title="Family Portrait (MESSENGER)">Family Portrait (MESSENGER)</a></div> <p>On February 18, 2011, a portrait of the Solar System was published on the <i>MESSENGER</i> website. The mosaic contained 34 images, acquired by the MDIS instrument during November 2010. All the planets were visible with the exception of <a href="/wiki/Uranus" title="Uranus">Uranus</a> and <a href="/wiki/Neptune" title="Neptune">Neptune</a>, due to their vast distances from the Sun. The <i>MESSENGER</i> "family portrait" was intended to be complementary to the <a href="/wiki/Family_Portrait_(Voyager)" title="Family Portrait (Voyager)">Voyager family portrait</a>, which was acquired from the outer Solar System by <i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i> on February 14, 1990.<sup id="cite_ref-APLPortrait_86-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-APLPortrait-86"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>86<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-halign-center" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg/800px-MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg" decoding="async" width="800" height="206" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg/1200px-MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg/1600px-MESSENGER_Solar_System_Family_Portrait.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2100" data-file-height="540" /></a><figcaption><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><i>MESSENGER</i> captured a near-complete portrait of the <a href="/wiki/Solar_System" title="Solar System">Solar System</a> during November 2010.</div></figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="View_of_a_total_lunar_eclipse">View of a total lunar eclipse</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: View of a total lunar eclipse"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/October_2014_lunar_eclipse" title="October 2014 lunar eclipse">October 2014 lunar eclipse</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif/220px-MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif" decoding="async" width="220" height="220" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif/330px-MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif/440px-MESSENGER_views_2014-10-08_lunar_eclipse_from_Mercury_orbit.gif 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="512" /></a><figcaption>A lunar eclipse as viewed from Mercury, captured from the <i>MESSENGER</i> spacecraft. The <a href="/wiki/Moon" title="Moon">Moon</a> can be seen falling into the shadow of Earth.</figcaption></figure> <p>On October 8, 2014 from 9:18 UTC to 10:18 UTC, <i>MESSENGER</i> took 31 images, taken two minutes apart, of the Earth and the Moon, as the Moon underwent a <a href="/wiki/Total_lunar_eclipse" class="mw-redirect" title="Total lunar eclipse">total lunar eclipse</a>. MESSENGER was 107 million kilometers (66 million miles) from the Earth at the time of the lunar eclipse. The Earth is about 5 pixels across and the Moon is just over 1 pixel across in the field of view of the NAC, with about 40 pixels distance between them. The images are zoomed by a factor of two and the Moon's brightness has been increased by a factor of about 25 to show its disappearance more clearly. This was the first observation of a <a href="/wiki/Lunar_eclipse" title="Lunar eclipse">lunar eclipse</a>, of Earth's Moon, in history to be viewed from another planet.<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>87<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-EclipseReboost_17-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-EclipseReboost-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="End_of_mission">End of mission</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: End of mission"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div><p> After running out of <a href="/wiki/Propellant" title="Propellant">propellant</a> for course adjustments, <i>MESSENGER</i> entered its expected terminal phase of orbital decay in late 2014. The spacecraft's operation was extended by several weeks by exploiting its remaining supply of helium gas, which was used to pressurize its propellant tanks, as <a href="/wiki/Reaction_mass" class="mw-redirect" title="Reaction mass">reaction mass</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Pressurant2015_88-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pressurant2015-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>MESSENGER</i> continued studying Mercury during its decay period.<sup id="cite_ref-Wu_2015_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wu_2015-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The spacecraft <a href="/wiki/Deliberate_crash_landings_on_extraterrestrial_bodies" class="mw-redirect" title="Deliberate crash landings on extraterrestrial bodies">crashed onto the surface</a> of Mercury on April 30, 2015, at 3:26 p.m. <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Time_Zone" title="Eastern Time Zone">EDT</a> (19:26 GMT), at a velocity of 14,080 km/h (8,750 mph), probably creating a crater in the planet's surface approximately 16 m (52 ft) wide.<sup id="cite_ref-Bang_18-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bang-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-space.com.end_89-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-space.com.end-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The spacecraft was estimated to have impacted at 54.4° N, 149.9° W on <a href="/wiki/Suisei_Planitia" title="Suisei Planitia">Suisei Planitia</a>, near the crater <a href="/wiki/Jan%C3%A1%C4%8Dek_(crater)" title="Janáček (crater)">Janáček</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The crash occurred at a place not visible from Earth at the time, and thus was not detected by any observers or instruments. NASA confirmed the end of the <i>MESSENGER</i> mission at 3:40 p.m. EDT (19:40 GMT) after NASA's <a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_Network" class="mw-redirect" title="Deep Space Network">Deep Space Network</a> did not detect the spacecraft's reemergence from behind Mercury.<sup id="cite_ref-space.com.end_89-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-space.com.end-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>91<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p><figure class="mw-halign-center" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:PIA19449-PlanetMercury-MESSENGER-Images-First-20110329-Last-20150430.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/PIA19449-PlanetMercury-MESSENGER-Images-First-20110329-Last-20150430.jpg/600px-PIA19449-PlanetMercury-MESSENGER-Images-First-20110329-Last-20150430.jpg" decoding="async" width="600" height="298" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/PIA19449-PlanetMercury-MESSENGER-Images-First-20110329-Last-20150430.jpg/900px-PIA19449-PlanetMercury-MESSENGER-Images-First-20110329-Last-20150430.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/PIA19449-PlanetMercury-MESSENGER-Images-First-20110329-Last-20150430.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1030" data-file-height="512" /></a><figcaption><div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"><i>MESSENGER'</i>s first (March 29, 2011) and last (April 30, 2015) images from Mercury's orbit (<a href="/wiki/File:Details_of_MESSENGER%27s_Impact_Location.jpg" title="File:Details of MESSENGER's Impact Location.jpg">impact details</a>).</div></figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1266661725">.mw-parser-output .portalbox{padding:0;margin:0.5em 0;display:table;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:175px;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portalborder{border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa)}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-entry{display:table-row;font-size:85%;line-height:110%;height:1.9em;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-image{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-link{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .portalleft{margin:0.5em 1em 0.5em 0}.mw-parser-output .portalright{clear:right;float:right;margin:0.5em 0 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src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/RocketSunIcon.svg/28px-RocketSunIcon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="28" height="28" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/RocketSunIcon.svg/42px-RocketSunIcon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/RocketSunIcon.svg/56px-RocketSunIcon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></span></span></span><span class="portalbox-link"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Spaceflight" title="Portal:Spaceflight">Spaceflight portal</a></span></li></ul> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/BepiColombo" title="BepiColombo">BepiColombo</a></i>, a European-Japanese mission to Mercury which was launched on October 19, 2018, and will enter orbit in November 2026</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Exploration_of_Mercury" title="Exploration of Mercury">Exploration of Mercury</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_program" title="Mariner program">Mariner program</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stamatios_Krimigis" title="Stamatios Krimigis">Stamatios Krimigis</a>, a NASA physicist and key contributor to the mission</li></ul> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Extended2013-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Extended2013_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Extended2013_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output 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April 30, 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 2,</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Press+Release%3A+NASA+Completes+MESSENGER+Mission+with+Expected+Impact+on+Mercury%27s+Surface&rft.pub=NASA&rft.date=2015-04-30&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fpress-release%2Fnasa-completes-messenger-mission-with-expected-impact-on-mercurys-surface&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMESSENGER" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MESSENGER&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid 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rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070714191601/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=MESSENGER">MESSENGER Mission Profile</a> by <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov">NASA's Solar System Exploration</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130420191022/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/encounters/">Mercury Flyby 1 Visualization Tool</a> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081201215401/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/encountersactual/">Mercury Flyby 1 Actuals</a> – comparison between simulated views of Mercury to the images actually acquired by MESSENGER during flyby 1</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513080216/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/encountersm2/">Mercury Flyby 2 Visualization Tool</a> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130513075040/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/encountersm2actual/">Mercury Flyby 2 Actuals</a> – comparison between simulated views of Mercury to the images actually acquired by MESSENGER during flyby 2</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu">MESSENGER Image Gallery</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2004-030A">NSSDC Master Catalog entry</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050907233415/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/images/flyby_images/mdis_depart.mpeg">Video from MESSENGER as it departs Earth</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/search.jsp?q=mercury&fq=facet_target%3A%222%2Cplanet%2Cmercury%22&f.facet_target.facet.prefix=3%2Cplanet%2Cmercury%2C">Mercury data collected by both Mariner 10 and 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0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Main</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NEAR_Shoemaker" title="NEAR Shoemaker">NEAR Shoemaker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Pathfinder" title="Mars Pathfinder">Mars Pathfinder</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Prospector" title="Lunar Prospector">Lunar Prospector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stardust_(spacecraft)" title="Stardust (spacecraft)">Stardust</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Genesis_(spacecraft)" title="Genesis (spacecraft)">Genesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CONTOUR" title="CONTOUR">CONTOUR</a><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deep_Impact_(spacecraft)" title="Deep Impact (spacecraft)">Deep Impact</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)" title="Dawn (spacecraft)">Dawn</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler_space_telescope" title="Kepler space telescope">Kepler</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GRAIL" title="GRAIL">GRAIL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/InSight" title="InSight">InSight</a></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/Lucy_(spacecraft)" title="Lucy (spacecraft)">Lucy</a></u></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/Psyche_(spacecraft)" title="Psyche (spacecraft)">Psyche</a></u></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/VERITAS_(spacecraft)" title="VERITAS (spacecraft)">VERITAS</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/DAVINCI" title="DAVINCI">DAVINCI</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Opportunity</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><u><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express#Scientific_instruments" title="Mars Express">ASPERA-3</a></u></li> <li><a href="/wiki/EPOXI" title="EPOXI">EPOXI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stardust_(spacecraft)#New_Exploration_of_Tempel_1_(NExT)" title="Stardust (spacecraft)">NExT</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moon_Mineralogy_Mapper" title="Moon Mineralogy Mapper">Moon Mineralogy Mapper</a></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/BepiColombo#Mercury_Planetary_Orbiter" title="BepiColombo">Strofio</a></u></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Martian_Moons_Exploration#Scientific_payload" class="mw-redirect" title="Martian Moons Exploration">MEGANE</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="2" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png/80px-NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png" decoding="async" width="80" height="53" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png/120px-NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png/160px-NEAR_Shoemaker_spacecraft_model.png 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="265" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Proposals</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Finalists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Mission 12 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Comet_Hopper" title="Comet Hopper">Comet Hopper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Titan_Mare_Explorer" title="Titan Mare Explorer">Titan Mare Explorer</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Selection_of_Discovery_Mission_13_and_14" title="Selection of Discovery Mission 13 and 14">Mission 13 and 14</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Near-Earth_Object_Camera" class="mw-redirect" title="Near-Earth Object Camera">NEOCam</a></li></ul></li> <li>Mission 15 and 16 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Io_Volcano_Observer" title="Io Volcano Observer">Io Volcano Observer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trident_(spacecraft)" title="Trident (spacecraft)">Trident</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Candidates</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Enceladus_Life_Finder" title="Enceladus Life Finder">Enceladus Life Finder</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Icebreaker_Life" title="Icebreaker Life">Icebreaker Life</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ISOCHRON_(spacecraft)" title="ISOCHRON (spacecraft)">ISOCHRON</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Journey_to_Enceladus_and_Titan" title="Journey to Enceladus and Titan">JET</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Life_Investigation_For_Enceladus" title="Life Investigation For Enceladus">LIFE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MANTIS_(spacecraft)" title="MANTIS (spacecraft)">MANTIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Geyser_Hopper" title="Mars Geyser Hopper">Mars Geyser Hopper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moon_Diver_(spacecraft)" title="Moon Diver (spacecraft)">Moon Diver</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phobos_And_Deimos_%26_Mars_Environment" title="Phobos And Deimos & Mars Environment">PADME</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phobos_Surveyor" title="Phobos Surveyor">Phobos Surveyor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Whipple_(spacecraft)" title="Whipple (spacecraft)">Whipple</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="New_Frontiers_program395" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/New_Frontiers_program" title="New Frontiers program">New Frontiers program</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Missions8" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:176px">Missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><u><a href="/wiki/New_Horizons" title="New Horizons">New Horizons</a></u></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)" title="Juno (spacecraft)">Juno</a></u></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/OSIRIS-REx" title="OSIRIS-REx">OSIRIS-REx</a></u></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Dragonfly_(Titan_space_probe)" title="Dragonfly (Titan space probe)">Dragonfly</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="2" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png/80px-New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png" decoding="async" width="80" height="75" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png/120px-New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png/160px-New_Horizons_spacecraft_model_1.png 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="746" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Proposals</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Finalists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Mission 2 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MoonRise" title="MoonRise">MoonRise</a></li></ul></li> <li>Mission 3 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MoonRise" title="MoonRise">MoonRise</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_In_Situ_Atmospheric_and_Geochemical_Explorer" title="Venus In Situ Atmospheric and Geochemical Explorer">SAGE</a></li></ul></li> <li>Mission 4 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/CAESAR_(spacecraft)" title="CAESAR (spacecraft)">CAESAR</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:75px">Candidates</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Comet_Nucleus_Dust_and_Organics_Return" title="Comet Nucleus Dust and Organics Return">CONDOR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Comet_Rendezvous,_Sample_Acquisition,_Investigation,_and_Return" title="Comet Rendezvous, Sample Acquisition, Investigation, and Return">CORSAIR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Enceladus_Life_Finder" title="Enceladus Life Finder">ELF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Enceladus_Life_Signatures_and_Habitability" title="Enceladus Life Signatures and Habitability">ELSAH</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oceanus_(Titan_orbiter)" title="Oceanus (Titan orbiter)">Oceanus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SPRITE_(spacecraft)" title="SPRITE (spacecraft)">SPRITE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_In_situ_Composition_Investigations" title="Venus In situ Composition Investigations">VICI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_In_Situ_Atmospheric_and_Geochemical_Explorer" title="Venus In Situ Atmospheric and Geochemical Explorer">VISAGE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Origins_Explorer" title="Venus Origins Explorer">VOX</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Solar_System_Exploration_program395" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Planetary_Missions_Program_Office#Solar_System_Exploration" title="Planetary Missions Program Office">Solar System Exploration program</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Missions8" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:176px">Missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Double_Asteroid_Redirection_Test" title="Double Asteroid Redirection Test">DART</a></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Explorer" title="Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer">JUICE instruments</a></u></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/Europa_Clipper" title="Europa Clipper">Europa Clipper</a></u></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><u>Underline</u> indicates active current missions</li> <li><i>Italics</i> indicate missions yet to launch</li> <li>Symbol <sup>†</sup> indicates failure en route or before intended mission data returned</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Spacecraft_missions_to_Mercury154" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Mercury_spacecraft" title="Template:Mercury spacecraft"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Mercury_spacecraft" title="Template talk:Mercury spacecraft"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Mercury_spacecraft" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Mercury spacecraft"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Spacecraft_missions_to_Mercury154" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Exploration_of_Mercury" title="Exploration of Mercury">Spacecraft missions</a> to <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Past</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">Mariner 10</a> <small>(1973–1975)</small></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a> <small>(2004–2015)</small></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="5" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Mercury.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Mercury.jpg/60px-Mercury.jpg" decoding="async" width="60" height="92" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Mercury.jpg/90px-Mercury.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Mercury.jpg/120px-Mercury.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2158" data-file-height="3300" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Current</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/BepiColombo" title="BepiColombo">BepiColombo</a> <small>(2018–present)</small></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Proposed</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mercury-P" title="Mercury-P">Mercury-P</a> <small>(~2031)</small></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mercury_Lander&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mercury Lander (page does not exist)">Mercury Lander</a> <small>(2035)</small></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Cancelled</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mercury_Observer" class="mw-redirect" title="Mercury Observer">Mercury Observer</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">See also</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_program" title="Mariner program">Mariner program</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Exploration_of_Mercury" title="Exploration of Mercury">Exploration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Colonization_of_Mercury" class="mw-redirect" title="Colonization of Mercury">Colonization</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><i>Italics</i> indicates active missions.</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Spacecraft_missions_to_Venus387" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Venus_spacecraft" title="Template:Venus spacecraft"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Venus_spacecraft" title="Template talk:Venus spacecraft"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Venus_spacecraft" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Venus spacecraft"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Spacecraft_missions_to_Venus387" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Venus" title="List of missions to Venus">Spacecraft missions</a> to <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Active missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Flybys6" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Flybys</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Solar_Orbiter" title="Solar Orbiter">Solar Orbiter</a><sup>‡</sup> (en route)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Explorer" title="Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer">Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer</a><sup>‡</sup> (en route)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="7" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg/80px-V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg" decoding="async" width="80" height="69" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg/120px-V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg/160px-V%C3%A9nus_t%C3%A9lescope.jpg 2x" data-file-width="302" data-file-height="262" /></a></span><br /><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg/80px-MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg" decoding="async" width="80" height="80" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg/120px-MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg/160px-MESSENGER_-_Venus_630_nm_stretch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="525" data-file-height="525" /></a></span><br /><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg/80px-Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg" decoding="async" width="80" height="64" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg/120px-Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg/160px-Maat_Mons_on_Venus.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Past missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Orbiters</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)" title="Magellan (spacecraft)">Magellan</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Orbiter" title="Pioneer Venus Orbiter">Pioneer Venus Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_9" title="Venera 9">Venera 9</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_10" title="Venera 10">10</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_15" title="Venera 15">15</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_16" title="Venera 16">16</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Akatsuki_(spacecraft)" title="Akatsuki (spacecraft)">Akatsuki</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Flybys</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Venera_1" title="Venera 1">Venera 1</a></i><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_2" title="Mariner 2">Mariner 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zond_1" title="Zond 1">Zond 1</a><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_2" title="Venera 2">Venera 2</a><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_5" title="Mariner 5">Mariner 5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">10</a><sup>‡</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_11" title="Venera 11">Venera 11</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_12" title="Venera 12">12</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_13" title="Venera 13">13</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_14" title="Venera 14">14</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_1" title="Vega 1">Vega 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_2" title="Vega 2">2</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Galileo_project" title="Galileo project">Galileo</a></i><sup>‡</sup></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini–Huygens</a></i><sup>‡</sup></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i><sup>‡</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/IKAROS" title="IKAROS">IKAROS</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shin%27en_(spacecraft)" title="Shin'en (spacecraft)">Shin-en</a></i><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe" title="Parker Solar Probe">Parker Solar Probe</a><sup>‡</sup></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/BepiColombo" title="BepiColombo">BepiColombo</a></i><sup>‡</sup></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Descent probes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venera_3" title="Venera 3">Venera 3</a><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_4" title="Venera 4">4</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_5" title="Venera 5">5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_6" title="Venera 6">6</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Multiprobe" title="Pioneer Venus Multiprobe">Pioneer Venus Multiprobe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Landers</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venera_7" title="Venera 7">Venera 7</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_8" title="Venera 8">8</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_9" title="Venera 9">9</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_10" title="Venera 10">10</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_11" title="Venera 11">11</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_12" title="Venera 12">12</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_13" title="Venera 13">13</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_14" title="Venera 14">14</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_1" title="Vega 1">Vega 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_2" title="Vega 2">2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Multiprobe#Small_probes" title="Pioneer Venus Multiprobe">Pioneer Venus Small Probes</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Balloon probes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vega_1" title="Vega 1">Vega 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_2" title="Vega 2">2</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Failed launches</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tyazhely_Sputnik" title="Tyazhely Sputnik">Tyazhely Sputnik</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_1" title="Mariner 1">Mariner 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_2MV-1_No.1" title="Venera 2MV-1 No.1">2MV-1 No.1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_2MV-1_No.2" title="Venera 2MV-1 No.2">2MV-1 No.2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_2MV-2_No.1" title="Venera 2MV-2 No.1">2MV-2 No.1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosmos_21" title="Kosmos 21">Kosmos 21</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zond_3MV-1_No.2" title="Zond 3MV-1 No.2">3MV-1 No.2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosmos_27" title="Kosmos 27">Kosmos 27</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosmos_96" title="Kosmos 96">96</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosmos_167" title="Kosmos 167">167</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosmos_482" title="Kosmos 482">482</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Planned missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Orbiters</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Orbiter_Mission" title="Venus Orbiter Mission">Venus Orbiter Mission</a> (2028)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/VERITAS_(spacecraft)" title="VERITAS (spacecraft)">VERITAS</a> (2031)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/EnVision" title="EnVision">EnVision</a> (2031)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Flybys</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Dragonfly_(Titan_space_probe)" title="Dragonfly (Titan space probe)">Dragonfly</a></i><sup>‡</sup> (2028)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/MBR_(spacecraft)" class="mw-redirect" title="MBR (spacecraft)">MBR Explorer</a><sup>‡</sup> (2028)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tianwen-4" title="Tianwen-4">Tianwen-4</a><sup>‡</sup> (2030)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Descent probes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Life_Finder" title="Venus Life Finder">Venus Life Finder</a> (2025)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/DAVINCI" title="DAVINCI">DAVINCI</a> (2031–2032)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Proposed missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Dedicated missions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venera-D" title="Venera-D">Venera-D</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:8em;">Flybys</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mercury-P" title="Mercury-P">Mercury-P</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uranus_Orbiter_and_Probe" title="Uranus Orbiter and Probe">Uranus Orbiter and Probe</a><sup>‡</sup></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Cancelled <br /> or not developed</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Automaton_Rover_for_Extreme_Environments" title="Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments">AREE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Venus_Explorer" title="European Venus Explorer">European Venus Explorer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CubeSat_UV_Experiment" title="CubeSat UV Experiment">CUVE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/High_Altitude_Venus_Operational_Concept" title="High Altitude Venus Operational Concept">HAVOC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hyperspectral_Observer_for_Venus_Reconnaissance" title="Hyperspectral Observer for Venus Reconnaissance">HOVER</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inspiration_Mars_Foundation" title="Inspiration Mars Foundation">Inspiration Mars</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laplace-P" title="Laplace-P">Laplace-P</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/TMK#Mavr_(MArs_-_VeneRa)" title="TMK">TMK-Mavr</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Atmospheric_Maneuverable_Platform" title="Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform">VAMP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Orbiting_Imaging_Radar" title="Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar">Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vesta_(spacecraft)" title="Vesta (spacecraft)">Vesta</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_In_situ_Composition_Investigations" title="Venus In situ Composition Investigations">VICI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_In_Situ_Atmospheric_and_Geochemical_Explorer" title="Venus In Situ Atmospheric and Geochemical Explorer">VISAGE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_In_Situ_Explorer" title="Venus In Situ Explorer">VISE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Volcano_Imaging_and_Climate_Explorer" title="Venus Volcano Imaging and Climate Explorer">VOICE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Origins_Explorer" title="Venus Origins Explorer">VOX</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Zephyr_(rover)" title="Zephyr (rover)">Zephyr</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Program overviews</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venera" title="Venera">Venera</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/3MV" title="3MV">3MV</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_program" title="Mariner program">Mariner</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_project" title="Pioneer Venus project">Pioneer Venus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vega_program" title="Vega program">Vega</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Colonization_of_Venus" title="Colonization of Venus">Colonization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Observations_and_explorations_of_Venus" title="Observations and explorations of Venus">Observations and explorations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_artificial_objects_on_Venus" title="List of artificial objects on Venus">List of artificial objects on Venus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Venus" title="List of missions to Venus">List of missions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manned_Venus_flyby" title="Manned Venus flyby">Manned Venus flyby</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Terraforming_of_Venus" title="Terraforming of Venus">Terraforming</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Spectral_Rocket_Experiment" title="Venus Spectral Rocket Experiment">VeSpR</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li>Missions are ordered by launch date. <sup>†</sup> indicates failure en route or before any data returned. <sup>‡</sup> indicates use of the planet as a <a href="/wiki/Gravity_assist" title="Gravity assist">gravity assist</a> en route to another destination.</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Science_instruments_on_satellites_and_spacecraft238" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Satellite_and_spacecraft_instruments" title="Template:Satellite and spacecraft instruments"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Satellite_and_spacecraft_instruments" title="Template talk:Satellite and spacecraft instruments"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Satellite_and_spacecraft_instruments" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Satellite and spacecraft instruments"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Science_instruments_on_satellites_and_spacecraft238" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Science instruments on satellites and spacecraft</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Radar</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini–Huygens</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)" title="Magellan (spacecraft)">Magellan</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Orbiter" title="Pioneer Venus Orbiter">Pioneer Venus Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Radar_for_Europa_Assessment_and_Sounding:_Ocean_to_Near-surface" title="Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface">REASON</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SELENE" title="SELENE">SELENE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SHARAD" title="SHARAD">SHARAD</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MARSIS" title="MARSIS">MARSIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_4" title="Venera 4">Venera 4</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_8" title="Venera 8">8</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_9" title="Venera 9">9</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_10" title="Venera 10">10</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_15" title="Venera 15">15</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_16" title="Venera 16">16</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WISDOM_(radar)" title="WISDOM (radar)">WISDOM</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Radio_science_subsystem" title="Radio science subsystem">Radio science</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Akatsuki_(spacecraft)" title="Akatsuki (spacecraft)">Akatsuki</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini–Huygens</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Europa_Ultraviolet_Spectrograph" title="Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph">Europa-UVS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LaRa" title="LaRa">ExoMars lander</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Galileo_(spacecraft)" title="Galileo (spacecraft)">Galileo</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rotation_and_Interior_Structure_Experiment" title="Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment">InSight</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SELENE" title="SELENE">Kaguya</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)" title="Magellan (spacecraft)">Magellan</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_2" title="Mariner 2">Mariner 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_3" title="Mariner 3">3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_4" title="Mariner 4">4</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_5" title="Mariner 5">5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_6_and_7" title="Mariner 6 and 7">6, 7</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_9" title="Mariner 9">9</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">10</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">Mars Express</a></i></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Nozomi_(spacecraft)" title="Nozomi (spacecraft)">Nozomi</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_7" class="mw-redirect" title="Pioneer 7">Pioneer 7</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_10" title="Pioneer 10">10</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_11" title="Pioneer 11">11</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_Venus_Orbiter" title="Pioneer Venus Orbiter">Pioneer Venus Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sakigake" title="Sakigake">Sakigake</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_9" title="Venera 9">Venera 9</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_2" title="Voyager 2">2</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Radiometer" title="Radiometer">Radiometer</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Microwave66" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Microwave_radiometer" title="Microwave radiometer">Microwave</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aqua_(satellite)" title="Aqua (satellite)">AQUA</a></li> <li>AMR-C (<a href="/wiki/Sentinel-6" class="mw-redirect" title="Sentinel-6">Sentinel-6</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Advanced_Microwave_Scanning_Radiometer_for_EOS" class="mw-redirect" title="Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS">AMSR-E</a> (AQUA)</li> <li>AMSR (<a href="/wiki/ADEOS_II" title="ADEOS II">ADEOS II</a>)</li> <li>AMSR2 (<a href="/wiki/GCOM-W" class="mw-redirect" title="GCOM-W">Shizuku</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defense_Meteorological_Satellite_Program" title="Defense Meteorological Satellite Program">DMSP 5D-2/F13-F15</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Defense_Meteorological_Satellite_Program" title="Defense Meteorological Satellite Program">DMSP 5D-2/F16</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Remote-Sensing_Satellite" title="European Remote-Sensing Satellite">ERSS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Envisat" title="Envisat">Envisat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Global_Precipitation_Measurement" title="Global Precipitation Measurement">GPM Core</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Kanopus-ST&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kanopus-ST (page does not exist)">Kanopus-ST</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Microwave_Imaging_Radiometer_with_Aperture_Synthesis" title="Microwave Imaging Radiometer with Aperture Synthesis">MIRAS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multi-angle_imaging_spectroradiometer" title="Multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer">MISR</a>, <a href="/wiki/MOPITT" title="MOPITT">MOPITT</a> (<a href="/wiki/Terra_(satellite)" title="Terra (satellite)">Terra</a>)</li> <li>MSR (<a href="/wiki/MOS-1_(satellite)" title="MOS-1 (satellite)">MOS-1</a>, MOS-1b)</li> <li>MTVZA (<a href="/wiki/Meteor-3M_No.1" title="Meteor-3M No.1">Meteor-3M-1</a>)</li> <li>MTVZA-GYa <ul><li>Meteor-M2</li> <li>Meteor-M2-1</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nimbus_program" title="Nimbus program">Nimbus 7</a></li> <li>RM-08 and MTVZA-OK (<a href="/wiki/Sich-1M" title="Sich-1M">Sich-1M</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Seasat" title="Seasat">Seasat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentinel-3" title="Sentinel-3">Sentinel-3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soil_Moisture_Active_Passive" title="Soil Moisture Active Passive">SMAP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scanning_Multichannel_Microwave_Radiometer" class="mw-redirect" title="Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer">SMMR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soil_Moisture_and_Ocean_Salinity" title="Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity">SMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special_Sensor_Microwave/Imager" class="mw-redirect" title="Special Sensor Microwave/Imager">SSM/I</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SSMIS" title="SSMIS">SSMIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/TRMM" class="mw-redirect" title="TRMM">TRMM</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Weather_System_Follow-on_Microwave" title="Weather System Follow-on Microwave">WSF-M</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Zond-PP&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Zond-PP (page does not exist)">Zond-PP</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini-Huygens" class="mw-redirect" title="Cassini-Huygens">Cassini-Huygens</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electra_(radio)" title="Electra (radio)">Electra (radio)</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Mariner_2" title="Mariner 2">Mariner 2</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Microwave_Radiometer_(Juno)" title="Microwave Radiometer (Juno)">MWR</a> (<i><a href="/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)" title="Juno (spacecraft)">Juno</a></i>)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)" title="Rosetta (spacecraft)">Rosetta</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Infrared-visible</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advanced_very-high-resolution_radiometer" title="Advanced very-high-resolution radiometer">AVHRR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Advanced_Spaceborne_Thermal_Emission_and_Reflection_Radiometer" title="Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer">ASTER</a>, <a href="/wiki/Multi-angle_imaging_spectroradiometer" title="Multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer">MISR</a> (<a href="/wiki/Terra_(satellite)" title="Terra (satellite)">Terra</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Atmospheric_Infrared_Sounder" class="mw-redirect" title="Atmospheric Infrared Sounder">AIRS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ADEOS_I" title="ADEOS I">AVNIR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Advanced_Land_Observing_Satellite" title="Advanced Land Observing Satellite">AVNIR-2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clouds_and_the_Earth%27s_Radiant_Energy_System" title="Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System">CERES</a> (TRMM, Terra, Aura, Suomi NPP, <a href="/wiki/NOAA-20" title="NOAA-20">NOAA-20</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Earth_Radiation_Budget_Satellite" title="Earth Radiation Budget Satellite">ERBS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_Remote-Sensing_Satellite" title="European Remote-Sensing Satellite">ERSS</a></li> <li>GLI (<a href="/wiki/ADEOS_II" title="ADEOS II">ADEOS II</a>)</li> <li>Kanopus-V-IK</li> <li>MESSR and VTIR <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MOS-1_(satellite)" title="MOS-1 (satellite)">MOS-1</a></li> <li>1b</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Meteor_(satellite)#Meteor-2" title="Meteor (satellite)">Meteor-2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moderate_Resolution_Imaging_Spectroradiometer" title="Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer">MODIS</a> (Terra, Aqua)</li> <li>OPS (<a href="/wiki/JERS-1" title="JERS-1">JERS-1</a>)</li> <li>ORI (<a href="/wiki/European_Retrievable_Carrier" title="European Retrievable Carrier">EURECA</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Radiation_Budget_Instrument" title="Radiation Budget Instrument">Radiation Budget Instrument</a></li> <li>SGLI (<a href="/wiki/GCOM-C" class="mw-redirect" title="GCOM-C">GCOM-C</a>)</li> <li>SLSTR (<a href="/wiki/Sentinel-3" title="Sentinel-3">Sentinel-3</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Visible_Infrared_Imaging_Radiometer_Suite" title="Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite">VIIRS</a> (<a href="/wiki/Suomi_NPP" title="Suomi NPP">Suomi NPP</a>, <a href="/wiki/NOAA-21" title="NOAA-21">NOAA-21</a>)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>COMARS+ (on <i><a href="/wiki/Schiaparelli_EDM_lander" class="mw-redirect" title="Schiaparelli EDM lander">Schiaparelli</a></i>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diviner" title="Diviner">Diviner</a> (on <a href="/wiki/Lunar_Reconnaissance_Orbiter" title="Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter">LRO</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heat_Flow_and_Physical_Properties_Package" title="Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package">HP3</a> (on <a href="/wiki/InSight" title="InSight">InSight</a>)</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Infrared_interferometer_spectrometer_and_radiometer" title="Infrared interferometer spectrometer and radiometer">IRIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Luna_13" title="Luna 13">Luna 13</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_6_and_7" title="Mariner 6 and 7">Mariner 6 and 7</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">Mariner 10</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_96" title="Mars 96">Mars 96</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_2M_No.521" title="Mars 2M No.521">2M No.521</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_2M_No.522" title="Mars 2M No.522">2M No.522</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_10" title="Pioneer 10">Pioneer 10</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_11" title="Pioneer 11">11</a></i></li> <li>PMIRR (on <a href="/wiki/Mars_Climate_Orbiter" title="Mars Climate Orbiter">Mars Climate Orbiter</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_9" title="Venera 9">Venera 9</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venera_10" title="Venera 10">10</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_2" title="Voyager 2">2</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ultraviolet (UV)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>ORI (<a href="/wiki/European_Retrievable_Carrier" title="European Retrievable Carrier">EURECA</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/LYRA" title="LYRA">LYRA</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Proba-2" class="mw-redirect" title="Proba-2">Proba-2</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Spectrophotometers</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Long wavelength</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Infrared_Space_Observatory" title="Infrared Space Observatory">ISO</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Spectrophotometry#IR_spectrophotometry" title="Spectrophotometry">Visible-IR (VIRS)</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Contribution_to_ARIEL_Spectroscopy_of_Exoplanets" title="Contribution to ARIEL Spectroscopy of Exoplanets">CASE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modular_Optoelectronic_Multispectral_Scanner" class="mw-redirect" title="Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner">MOMS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multispectral_Scanner" title="Multispectral Scanner">Multispectral Scanner</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SCIAMACHY" title="SCIAMACHY">SCIAMACHY</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tropospheric_Emission_Spectrometer" title="Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer">TES</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tropical_Rainfall_Measuring_Mission" title="Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission">TRMM</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AKARI" class="mw-redirect" title="AKARI">AKARI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rosalind_Franklin_(rover)" title="Rosalind Franklin (rover)"><i>Rosalind Franklin</i> rover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Multispectral_Imager_for_Subsurface_Studies" title="Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies">MA-MISS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infrared_Spectrometer_for_ExoMars" title="Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars">ISEM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infrared_Space_Observatory" title="Infrared Space Observatory">Infrared Space Observatory</a></li> <li>IRIS (<i>Voyager 1</i> and <i>2</i>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jovian_Infrared_Auroral_Mapper" title="Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper">JIRAM</a> (on Juno)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandrayaan-1" title="Chandrayaan-1">M<sup>3</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_6_and_7" title="Mariner 6 and 7">Mariner 6 and 7</a></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MERIS" title="MERIS">MERIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Europa_Thermal_Emission_Imaging_System" title="Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System">E-THEMIS</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mapping_Imaging_Spectrometer_for_Europa" title="Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa">MISE</a>, <a href="/wiki/Surface_Dust_Analyser" title="Surface Dust Analyser">SUDA</a> (on <a href="/wiki/Europa_Clipper" title="Europa Clipper">Europa Clipper</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ralph_(New_Horizons)" title="Ralph (New Horizons)">Ralph</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">SPICAM</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SPICAV" class="mw-redirect" title="SPICAV">SPICAV</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Emissivity_Mapper" title="Venus Emissivity Mapper">Venus Emissivity Mapper</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Ultraviolet-visible_spectroscopy#Ultraviolet-visible_spectrophotometer" class="mw-redirect" title="Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy">UV-visible (UVVS)</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alice_(spacecraft_instrument)" title="Alice (spacecraft instrument)">Alice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_6_and_7" title="Mariner 6 and 7">Mariner 6 and 7</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">Mariner 10</a></i></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nadir_and_Occultation_for_Mars_Discovery" title="Nadir and Occultation for Mars Discovery">NOMAD</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">SPICAM</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">SPICAV</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UVS_(Juno)" title="UVS (Juno)">UVS</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_2" title="Voyager 2">2</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Raman_spectroscopy" title="Raman spectroscopy">Raman</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Raman_Laser_Spectrometer" title="Raman Laser Spectrometer">Raman Laser Spectrometer</a> (<i>Rosalind Franklin</i> rover)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scanning_Habitable_Environments_with_Raman_and_Luminescence_for_Organics_and_Chemicals" title="Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals">SHERLOC</a> (<a href="/wiki/Perseverance_rover" class="mw-redirect" title="Perseverance rover"><i>Perseverance</i> rover</a>)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Magnetometer" title="Magnetometer">Magnetometer</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Geostationary_Operational_Environmental_Satellite" title="Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite">GOES</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/QuakeSat" class="mw-redirect" title="QuakeSat">QuakeSat</a> 1 and 2</li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Science_Grade_Vectorized_Magnetometer&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Science Grade Vectorized Magnetometer (page does not exist)">SGVM</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Proba-2" class="mw-redirect" title="Proba-2">Proba-2</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/FIELDS" title="FIELDS">FIELDS</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_10" title="Pioneer 10">Pioneer 10</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_11" title="Pioneer 11">11</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_2" title="Voyager 2">2</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magnetometer_(Juno)" title="Magnetometer (Juno)">MAG</a> (<i><a href="/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)" title="Juno (spacecraft)">Juno</a></i>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interior_Characterization_of_Europa_using_Magnetometry" title="Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry">ICEMAG</a> and <a href="/wiki/Plasma_Instrument_for_Magnetic_Sounding" title="Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding">PIMS</a> (Europa Clipper)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Magnetometer#Triaxial_fluxgate" title="Magnetometer">Triaxial fluxgate</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Swarm_(spacecraft)" title="Swarm (spacecraft)">Swarm</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini–Huygens</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/FIELDS" title="FIELDS">FIELDS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magsat" class="mw-redirect" title="Magsat">Magsat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_2" title="Mariner 2">Mariner 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_4" title="Mariner 4">4</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_5" title="Mariner 5">5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_10" title="Mariner 10">10</a></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_11" title="Pioneer 11">Pioneer 11</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Magnetometer#Helium" title="Magnetometer">Helium vapor</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Swarm_(spacecraft)" title="Swarm (spacecraft)">Swarm</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini–Huygens</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Particle<br />detectors</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ion detectors</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Near-Earth</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Demeter_(satellite)" title="Demeter (satellite)">DEMETER</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_Plasma_Measurement_Unit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Thermal Plasma Measurement Unit (page does not exist)">TPMU</a> and <a href="/wiki/Dual_segmented_Langmuir_probe" title="Dual segmented Langmuir probe">DSLP</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Proba-2" class="mw-redirect" title="Proba-2">Proba-2</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">ASPERA-3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">ASPERA-4</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_2" title="Mariner 2">Mariner 2</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Solar_Plasma_Spectrometer&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Solar Plasma Spectrometer (page does not exist)">SPS</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ulysses_(spacecraft)" title="Ulysses (spacecraft)">Ulysses</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Neutral_particle" title="Neutral particle">Neutral particle</a> detector</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ADRON-RM" title="ADRON-RM">ADRON-RM</a> (<i>Rosalind Franklin</i> rover)</li> <li>ASPERA-3 (on <i><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">Mars Express</a></i>)</li> <li>ASPERA-4 (on <i><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a></i>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dynamic_Albedo_of_Neutrons" title="Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons">DAN</a> (on <i>Curiosity</i>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fine-Resolution_Epithermal_Neutron_Detector" title="Fine-Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector">FREND</a> (on ExoMars TGO)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Nozomi_(spacecraft)" title="Nozomi (spacecraft)">Nozomi</a></i></li> <li>SPS (on <a href="/wiki/Mariner_2" title="Mariner 2">Mariner 2</a>)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ulysses_(spacecraft)" title="Ulysses (spacecraft)">Ulysses</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Mass_spectrometer" class="mw-redirect" title="Mass spectrometer">Mass spectrometer</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interplanetary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mass_Spectrometer_for_Planetary_Exploration" title="Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration">MASPEX</a> (Europa Clipper)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Organic_Molecule_Analyser" title="Mars Organic Molecule Analyser">MOMA</a> (<i>Rosalind Franklin</i> rover)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Seismometers</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Seismic_Experiment_for_Interior_Structure" title="Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure">SEIS</a> (on InSight)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Viking_1" title="Viking 1">Viking 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Viking_2" title="Viking 2">2</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Imagers/telescopes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/High_Resolution_Stereo_Camera" title="High Resolution Stereo Camera">High Resolution Stereo Camera</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HiRISE" title="HiRISE">HiRISE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Long_Range_Reconnaissance_Imager" title="Long Range Reconnaissance Imager">LORRI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Orbiter_Camera" title="Mars Orbiter Camera">Mars Orbiter Camera</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Microscopes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MicrOmega-IR" title="MicrOmega-IR">MicrOmega-IR</a> (<i>Rosalind Franklin</i> rover)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Astronomical<br />instruments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/International_Lunar_Observatory" title="International Lunar Observatory">International Lunar Observatory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MoonLIGHT" title="MoonLIGHT">MoonLIGHT</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Misc</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_Atomic_Clock" title="Deep Space Atomic Clock">Deep Space Atomic Clock</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inertial_Stellar_Compass" title="Inertial Stellar Compass">Inertial Stellar Compass</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venetia_Burney_Student_Dust_Counter" title="Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter">Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plasma_Wave_Subsystem" title="Plasma Wave Subsystem">Plasma Wave Subsystem</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="21st-century_space_probes322" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Solar_System_probes" title="Template:Solar System probes"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Solar_System_probes" title="Template talk:Solar System probes"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Solar_System_probes" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Solar System probes"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="21st-century_space_probes322" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">21st-century <a href="/wiki/Space_probe" class="mw-redirect" title="Space probe">space probes</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_active_Solar_System_probes" title="List of active Solar System probes">Active space probes</a><br />(deep space missions)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sun</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe" title="Parker Solar Probe">Parker Solar Probe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solar_Orbiter" title="Solar Orbiter">Solar Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aditya-L1" title="Aditya-L1">Aditya-L1</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_the_Moon" title="List of missions to the Moon">Moon</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/THEMIS" title="THEMIS">ARTEMIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CAPSTONE" title="CAPSTONE">CAPSTONE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandrayaan-2" title="Chandrayaan-2">Chandrayaan-2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_3" title="Chang'e 3">Chang'e 3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_4" title="Chang'e 4">Chang'e 4</a> (<a href="/wiki/Yutu-2" title="Yutu-2"><i>Yutu-2</i> rover</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_5" title="Chang'e 5">Chang'e 5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Danuri" title="Danuri">Danuri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Reconnaissance_Orbiter" title="Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter">Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Queqiao_relay_satellite" class="mw-redirect" title="Queqiao relay satellite">Queqiao</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Queqiao-2_relay_satellite" class="mw-redirect" title="Queqiao-2 relay satellite">Queqiao 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tiandu" title="Tiandu">Tiandu 1 and 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_6" title="Chang'e 6">Chang'e 6</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ICUBE-Q" title="ICUBE-Q">ICUBE-Q</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blue_Ghost_Mission_1" title="Blue Ghost Mission 1">Blue Ghost Mission 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hakuto-R_Mission_2" title="Hakuto-R Mission 2">Hakuto-R Mission 2</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Mars" title="List of missions to Mars">Mars</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Emirates_Mars_Mission" title="Emirates Mars Mission">Emirates Mars Mission</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ExoMars" title="ExoMars">ExoMars</a> <a href="/wiki/Trace_Gas_Orbiter" title="Trace Gas Orbiter">TGO</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Mars_Express" title="Mars Express">Mars Express</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/2001_Mars_Odyssey" title="2001 Mars Odyssey">2001 Mars Odyssey</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MAVEN" title="MAVEN">MAVEN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Reconnaissance_Orbiter" title="Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter">MRO</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory" title="Mars Science Laboratory">MSL</a> <a href="/wiki/Curiosity_(rover)" title="Curiosity (rover)"><i>Curiosity</i> rover</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tianwen-1" title="Tianwen-1">Tianwen-1</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_2020" title="Mars 2020">Mars 2020</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Perseverance_(rover)" title="Perseverance (rover)"><i>Perseverance</i> rover</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other planets</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/BepiColombo" title="BepiColombo">BepiColombo</a></i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Mercury" class="mw-redirect" title="List of missions to Mercury">Mercury</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Akatsuki_(spacecraft)" title="Akatsuki (spacecraft)">Akatsuki</a></i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Venus" title="List of missions to Venus">Venus</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)" title="Juno (spacecraft)">Juno</a></i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_the_outer_planets" title="List of missions to the outer planets">Jupiter</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Explorer" title="Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer">Juice</a></i> <ul><li>Jupiter</li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Europa_Clipper" title="Europa Clipper">Europa Clipper</a></i> <ul><li>Jupiter</li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_missions_to_minor_planets" title="List of missions to minor planets">Minor planets</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_2" title="Chang'e 2">Chang'e 2</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hayabusa2" title="Hayabusa2">Hayabusa2</a></i> / <a href="/wiki/Hayabusa2#MINERVA-II" title="Hayabusa2">MINERVA-II</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Lucy_(spacecraft)" title="Lucy (spacecraft)">Lucy</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/New_Horizons" title="New Horizons">New Horizons</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/OSIRIS-REx" title="OSIRIS-REx">OSIRIS-REx</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hera_(space_mission)" title="Hera (space mission)">Hera</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Psyche_(spacecraft)" title="Psyche (spacecraft)">Psyche</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Interstellar space</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_2" title="Voyager 2">Voyager 2</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_Solar_System_probes" title="List of Solar System probes">Completed after 2000</a><br />(by termination date)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2000s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>2001 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NEAR_Shoemaker" title="NEAR Shoemaker">NEAR Shoemaker</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_1" title="Deep Space 1">Deep Space 1</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2003 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_10" title="Pioneer 10">Pioneer 10</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Galileo_(spacecraft)" title="Galileo (spacecraft)">Galileo</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Nozomi_(spacecraft)" title="Nozomi (spacecraft)">Nozomi</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2004 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Genesis_(spacecraft)" title="Genesis (spacecraft)">Genesis</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2005 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Huygens_(spacecraft)" title="Huygens (spacecraft)">Huygens</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2006 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Mars_Global_Surveyor" title="Mars Global Surveyor">Mars Global Surveyor</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2008 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_(spacecraft)" title="Phoenix (spacecraft)">Phoenix</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2009 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_1" title="Chang'e 1">Chang'e 1</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ulysses_(spacecraft)" title="Ulysses (spacecraft)">Ulysses</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandrayaan-1" title="Chandrayaan-1">Chandrayaan-1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SELENE" title="SELENE">SELENE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LCROSS" title="LCROSS">LCROSS</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2010s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>2010 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Hayabusa" title="Hayabusa">Hayabusa</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover" title="Mars Exploration Rover">MER</a> <a href="/wiki/Spirit_(rover)" title="Spirit (rover)"><i>Spirit</i> rover</a></li></ul></li> <li>2011 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Stardust_(spacecraft)" title="Stardust (spacecraft)">Stardust</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2012 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/GRAIL" title="GRAIL">GRAIL</a></li></ul></li> <li>2013 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Deep_Impact_(spacecraft)" title="Deep Impact (spacecraft)">Deep Impact</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2014 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/LADEE" title="LADEE">LADEE</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Venus_Express" title="Venus Express">Venus Express</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_5-T1" title="Chang'e 5-T1">Chang'e 5-T1</a></li></ul></li> <li>2015 <ul><li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/PROCYON" title="PROCYON">PROCYON</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/IKAROS" title="IKAROS">IKAROS</a></li></ul></li> <li>2016 <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)" title="Rosetta (spacecraft)">Rosetta</a></i> / <i><a href="/wiki/Philae_(spacecraft)" title="Philae (spacecraft)">Philae</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yutu_(rover)" title="Yutu (rover)"><i>Yutu</i> rover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ExoMars" title="ExoMars">ExoMars</a> <i><a href="/wiki/Schiaparelli_EDM" title="Schiaparelli EDM">Schiaparelli</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2017 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/LISA_Pathfinder" title="LISA Pathfinder">LISA Pathfinder</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini</a></i></li></ul></li> <li>2018 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hayabusa2#MASCOT" title="Hayabusa2">MASCOT</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)" title="Dawn (spacecraft)">Dawn</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Longjiang_1" class="mw-redirect" title="Longjiang 1">Longjiang-1</a></li></ul></li> <li>2019 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Cube_One" title="Mars Cube One">MarCO</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover" title="Mars Exploration Rover">MER</a> <a href="/wiki/Opportunity_(rover)" title="Opportunity (rover)"><i>Opportunity</i> rover</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Beresheet" title="Beresheet">Beresheet</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Longjiang_2" class="mw-redirect" title="Longjiang 2">Longjiang-2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandrayaan-2" title="Chandrayaan-2">Chandrayaan-2</a> / <a href="/wiki/Pragyan_(Chandrayaan-2)" title="Pragyan (Chandrayaan-2)"><i>Pragyan</i> rover</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2020s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>2020 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chang%27e_5" title="Chang'e 5">Chang'e 5</a></li></ul></li> <li>2022 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Double_Asteroid_Redirection_Test" title="Double Asteroid Redirection Test"><i>Double Asteroid Redirection Test</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Orbiter_Mission" title="Mars Orbiter Mission"><i>Mangalyaan</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/InSight" title="InSight"><i>InSight</i></a></li></ul></li> <li>2023 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hakuto-R_Mission_1" title="Hakuto-R Mission 1">Hakuto-R Mission 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Luna_25" title="Luna 25">Luna 25</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chandrayaan-2" title="Chandrayaan-2">Chandrayaan-3</a> / <a href="/wiki/Pragyan_(Chandrayaan-3)" title="Pragyan (Chandrayaan-3)"><i>Pragyan</i> rover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zhurong_(rover)" title="Zhurong (rover)"><i>Zhurong</i> rover</a></li></ul></li> <li>2024 <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Peregrine_Mission_One" title="Peregrine Mission One">Peregrine Mission One</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)" title="Ingenuity (helicopter)"><i>Ingenuity</i> helicopter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smart_Lander_for_Investigating_Moon" title="Smart Lander for Investigating Moon">SLIM</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/IM-1" title="IM-1">IM-1</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Solar_System_probes" title="List of Solar System probes">List of Solar System probes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_lunar_probes" title="List of lunar probes">List of lunar probes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_extraterrestrial_orbiters" title="List of extraterrestrial orbiters">List of extraterrestrial orbiters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_space_telescopes" title="List of space telescopes">List of space telescopes</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="NASA578" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:NASA_space_program" title="Template:NASA space program"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:NASA_space_program" title="Template talk:NASA space program"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:NASA_space_program" title="Special:EditPage/Template:NASA space program"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="NASA578" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Space_policy_of_the_United_States" title="Space policy of the United States">Policy</a> and history</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">History<br />(<a href="/wiki/Creation_of_NASA" title="Creation of NASA">creation</a>)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/National_Advisory_Committee_for_Aeronautics" title="National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics">NACA</a> (1915)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Aeronautics_and_Space_Act" title="National Aeronautics and Space Act">National Aeronautics and Space Act</a> (1958)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Task_Group" title="Space Task Group">Space Task Group</a> (1958)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thomas_O._Paine#National_Commission_on_Space" title="Thomas O. Paine">Paine</a> (1986)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rogers_Commission_Report" title="Rogers Commission Report">Rogers</a> (1986)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ride_Report" title="Ride Report">Ride</a> (1987)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Exploration_Initiative" title="Space Exploration Initiative">Space Exploration Initiative</a> (1989)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Augustine_Committee" title="Augustine Committee">Augustine</a> (1990)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_policy_of_the_United_States#Clinton_administration" title="Space policy of the United States">U.S. National Space Policy</a> (1996)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commission_on_the_Future_of_the_United_States_Aerospace_Industry" title="Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry">CFUSAI</a> (2002)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Columbia_Accident_Investigation_Board" title="Columbia Accident Investigation Board">CAIB</a> (2003)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vision_for_Space_Exploration" title="Vision for Space Exploration">Vision for Space Exploration</a> (2004)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/President%27s_Commission_on_Implementation_of_United_States_Space_Exploration_Policy" title="President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy">Aldridge</a> (2004)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Review_of_United_States_Human_Space_Flight_Plans_Committee" title="Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee">Augustine</a> (2009)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">General</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Space_Race" title="Space Race">Space Race</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_administrators_and_deputy_administrators_of_NASA" class="mw-redirect" title="List of administrators and deputy administrators of NASA">Administrator and Deputy Administrator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_Chief_Scientist" title="NASA Chief Scientist">Chief Scientist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_Astronaut_Corps" title="NASA Astronaut Corps">Astronaut Corps</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Astronaut_ranks_and_positions" title="Astronaut ranks and positions">Ranks and positions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chief_of_the_Astronaut_Office" title="Chief of the Astronaut Office">Chief</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Budget_of_NASA" title="Budget of NASA">Budget</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_research" title="NASA research">NASA research</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies" class="mw-redirect" title="NASA spinoff technologies">spinoff technologies</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA%2B" title="NASA+">NASA+</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_TV" title="NASA TV">NASA TV</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_Social" title="NASA Social">NASA Social</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Launch_Services_Program" class="mw-redirect" title="Launch Services Program">Launch Services Program</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mercury_Control_Center" title="Mercury Control Center">Mercury Control Center</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manned_Space_Flight_Network" title="Manned Space Flight Network">Manned Space Flight Network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center" title="Kennedy Space Center">Kennedy Space Center</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vehicle_Assembly_Building" title="Vehicle Assembly Building">Vehicle Assembly Building</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center_Launch_Complex_39" title="Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39">Launch Complex 39</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center_Launch_Complex_48" title="Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 48">Launch Complex 48</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Launch_Control_Center" title="Launch Control Center">Launch Control Center</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operations_and_Checkout_Building" title="Operations and Checkout Building">Operations and Checkout Building</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Johnson_Space_Center" title="Johnson Space Center">Johnson Space Center</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christopher_C._Kraft_Jr._Mission_Control_Center" title="Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center">Mission Control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Sample_Laboratory_Facility" title="Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility">Lunar Sample Laboratory</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Science_Mission_Directorate" title="Science Mission Directorate">Science Mission Directorate</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Human_spaceflight" title="Human spaceflight">Human spaceflight</a><br />programs</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Past</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/North_American_X-15" title="North American X-15">X-15</a> (<a href="/wiki/Sub-orbital_spaceflight" title="Sub-orbital spaceflight">suborbital</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Project_Mercury" title="Project Mercury">Mercury</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Project_Gemini" title="Project Gemini">Gemini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apollo_program" title="Apollo program">Apollo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Skylab" title="Skylab">Skylab</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apollo%E2%80%93Soyuz" title="Apollo–Soyuz">Apollo–Soyuz</a> (with the <a href="/wiki/Soviet_space_program" title="Soviet space program">Soviet space program</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Shuttle_program" title="Space Shuttle program">Space Shuttle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shuttle%E2%80%93Mir_program" title="Shuttle–Mir program">Shuttle–<i>Mir</i></a> (with <a href="/wiki/Roscosmos" title="Roscosmos">Roscosmos</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Constellation_program" title="Constellation program">Constellation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Current</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/International_Space_Station_programme" title="International Space Station programme">International Space Station</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commercial_Orbital_Transportation_Services" title="Commercial Orbital Transportation Services">Commercial Orbital Transportation Services</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commercial_Crew_Program" title="Commercial Crew Program">Commercial Crew</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orion_(spacecraft)" title="Orion (spacecraft)">Orion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Artemis_program" title="Artemis program">Artemis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Gateway" title="Lunar Gateway">Lunar Gateway</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Robotic_spacecraft" class="mw-redirect" title="Robotic spacecraft">Robotic</a> programs</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Past</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hitchhiker_Program" title="Hitchhiker Program">Hitchhiker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_program" title="Mariner program">Mariner</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mariner_Mark_II" title="Mariner Mark II">Mariner Mark II</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MESUR" title="MESUR">MESUR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Surveyor_%2798" title="Mars Surveyor '98">Mars Surveyor '98</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Millennium_Program" title="New Millennium Program">New Millennium</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Orbiter_program" title="Lunar Orbiter program">Lunar Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_program" title="Pioneer program">Pioneer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Planetary_Observer_program" title="Planetary Observer program">Planetary Observer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ranger_program" title="Ranger program">Ranger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Surveyor_program" title="Surveyor program">Surveyor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Viking_program" title="Viking program">Viking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Project_Prometheus" title="Project Prometheus">Project Prometheus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Program" title="Mars Exploration Program">Mars Exploration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover" title="Mars Exploration Rover">Mars Exploration Rover</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Current</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Living_With_a_Star" title="Living With a Star">Living With a Star</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Precursor_Robotic_Program" title="Lunar Precursor Robotic Program">Lunar Precursor Robotic Program</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Earth_Observing_System" title="Earth Observing System">Earth Observing System</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Great_Observatories_program" title="Great Observatories program">Great Observatories program</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Explorers_Program" title="Explorers Program">Explorers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Voyager_program" title="Voyager program">Voyager</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Discovery_Program" title="Discovery Program">Discovery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Frontiers_program" title="New Frontiers program">New Frontiers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solar_Terrestrial_Probes_program" title="Solar Terrestrial Probes program">Solar Terrestrial Probes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commercial_Lunar_Payload_Services" title="Commercial Lunar Payload Services">Commercial Lunar Payload Services</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Small_Innovative_Missions_for_Planetary_Exploration" title="Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration">SIMPLEx</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Individual featured<br /> <a href="/wiki/List_of_NASA_missions" title="List of NASA missions">missions</a><br />(human and robotic)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Past</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Apollo_11" title="Apollo 11">Apollo 11</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cosmic_Background_Explorer" title="Cosmic Background Explorer">COBE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_3" title="Mercury-Redstone 3">Mercury 3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mercury-Atlas_6" title="Mercury-Atlas 6">Mercury-Atlas 6</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)" title="Magellan (spacecraft)">Magellan</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_10" title="Pioneer 10">Pioneer 10</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_11" title="Pioneer 11">Pioneer 11</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Galileo_project" title="Galileo project"><i>Galileo</i></a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_Galileo_(spacecraft)" title="Timeline of Galileo (spacecraft)">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GALEX" title="GALEX">GALEX</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GRAIL" title="GRAIL">GRAIL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wilkinson_Microwave_Anisotropy_Probe" title="Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe">WMAP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Shuttle" title="Space Shuttle">Space Shuttle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spitzer_Space_Telescope" title="Spitzer Space Telescope">Spitzer Space Telescope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sojourner_(rover)" title="Sojourner (rover)"><i>Sojourner</i> rover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spirit_(rover)" title="Spirit (rover)"><i>Spirit</i> rover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LADEE" title="LADEE">LADEE</a></li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aquarius_(SAC-D_instrument)" title="Aquarius (SAC-D instrument)">Aquarius</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens"><i>Cassini</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)" title="Dawn (spacecraft)"><i>Dawn</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler_space_telescope" title="Kepler space telescope">Kepler space telescope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Opportunity_(rover)" title="Opportunity (rover)"><i>Opportunity</i> rover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_Opportunity" title="Timeline of Opportunity">timeline</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_surface_features_of_Mars_visited_by_Spirit_and_Opportunity" title="List of surface features of Mars visited by Spirit and Opportunity">observed</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ramaty_High_Energy_Solar_Spectroscopic_Imager" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager">RHESSI</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/InSight" title="InSight">InSight</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ingenuity_(helicopter)" title="Ingenuity (helicopter)"><i>Ingenuity</i> helicopter</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Ingenuity_flights" title="List of Ingenuity flights">flights</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Currently<br />operating</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Mars_Reconnaissance_Orbiter" title="Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter">Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/2001_Mars_Odyssey" title="2001 Mars Odyssey">2001 Mars Odyssey</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/New_Horizons" title="New Horizons">New Horizons</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_Space_Station" title="International Space Station">International Space Station</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope" title="Hubble Space Telescope">Hubble Space Telescope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neil_Gehrels_Swift_Observatory" title="Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory"><i>Swift</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/THEMIS" title="THEMIS">THEMIS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover" title="Mars Exploration Rover">Mars Exploration Rover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Curiosity_(rover)" title="Curiosity (rover)"><i>Curiosity</i> rover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_Mars_Science_Laboratory" title="Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GOES_14" title="GOES 14">GOES 14</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_Reconnaissance_Orbiter" title="Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter">Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GOES_15" title="GOES 15">GOES 15</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Van_Allen_Probes" title="Van Allen Probes">Van Allen Probes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solar_Dynamics_Observatory" title="Solar Dynamics Observatory">Solar Dynamics Observatory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)" title="Juno (spacecraft)"><i>Juno</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory" title="Mars Science Laboratory">Mars Science Laboratory</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_Mars_Science_Laboratory" title="Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NuSTAR" title="NuSTAR">NuSTAR</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_1" title="Voyager 1">Voyager 1</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Voyager_2" title="Voyager 2">Voyager 2</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wide-field_Infrared_Survey_Explorer" title="Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer">WISE</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MAVEN" title="MAVEN">MAVEN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magnetospheric_Multiscale_Mission" title="Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission">MMS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/OSIRIS-REx" title="OSIRIS-REx">OSIRIS-REx</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transiting_Exoplanet_Survey_Satellite" title="Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite">Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_2020" title="Mars 2020">Mars 2020</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Perseverance_(rover)" title="Perseverance (rover)"><i>Perseverance</i> rover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_Mars_2020" title="Timeline of Mars 2020">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope" title="James Webb Space Telescope">James Webb Space Telescope</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_James_Webb_Space_Telescope" title="Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plankton,_Aerosol,_Cloud,_ocean_Ecosystem" title="Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem">PACE</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Europa_Clipper" title="Europa Clipper">Europa Clipper</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;">Future</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NISAR_(satellite)" title="NISAR (satellite)">NISAR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nancy_Grace_Roman_Space_Telescope" title="Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/DAVINCI" title="DAVINCI">DAVINCI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/VERITAS_(spacecraft)" title="VERITAS (spacecraft)">VERITAS</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Space_Communications_and_Navigation_Program" title="Space Communications and Navigation Program">Communications<br />and navigation</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Near_Earth_Network" title="Near Earth Network">Near Earth Network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Network" title="Space Network">Space Network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_Deep_Space_Network" title="NASA Deep Space Network">Deep Space Network</a> (<a href="/wiki/Goldstone_Deep_Space_Communications_Complex" title="Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex">Goldstone</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Madrid_Deep_Space_Communications_Complex" title="Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex">Madrid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Canberra_Deep_Space_Communication_Complex" title="Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex">Canberra</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Flight_Operations_Facility" title="Space Flight Operations Facility">Space Flight Operations Facility</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_Atomic_Clock" title="Deep Space Atomic Clock">Deep Space Atomic Clock</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">NASA lists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Astronaut" title="Astronaut">Astronauts</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_astronauts_by_name" title="List of astronauts by name">by name</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_astronauts_by_year_of_selection" title="List of astronauts by year of selection">by year</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Gemini_astronauts" title="List of Gemini astronauts">Gemini astronauts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Apollo_astronauts" title="List of Apollo astronauts">Apollo astronauts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Space_Shuttle_crews" title="List of Space Shuttle crews">Space Shuttle crews</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NASA_aircraft" title="List of NASA aircraft">NASA aircraft</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NASA_missions" title="List of NASA missions">NASA missions</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_uncrewed_NASA_missions" title="List of uncrewed NASA missions">uncrewed missions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Apollo_missions" title="List of Apollo missions">Apollo missions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Space_Shuttle_missions" title="List of Space Shuttle missions">Space Shuttle missions</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_rockets_of_the_United_States" title="List of rockets of the United States">United States rockets</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NASA_cancellations" title="List of NASA cancellations">NASA cancellations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NASA_cameras_on_spacecraft" title="List of NASA cameras on spacecraft">NASA cameras on spacecraft</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">NASA images<br />and artwork</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Earthrise" title="Earthrise">Earthrise</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Blue_Marble" title="The Blue Marble">The Blue Marble</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Family_Portrait_(Voyager)" title="Family Portrait (Voyager)">Family Portrait</a></i> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot" title="Pale Blue Dot">Pale Blue Dot</a></i></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Pillars_of_Creation" title="Pillars of Creation">Pillars of Creation</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Mystic_Mountain" title="Mystic Mountain">Mystic Mountain</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Family_Portrait_(MESSENGER)" title="Family Portrait (MESSENGER)"><i>Solar System Family Portrait</i></a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Smiled" title="The Day the Earth Smiled">The Day the Earth Smiled</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Fallen_Astronaut" title="Fallen Astronaut">Fallen Astronaut</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_deep_fields" title="List of deep fields">Deep fields</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_plaque" title="Lunar plaque">Lunar plaques</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pioneer_plaque" title="Pioneer plaque">Pioneer plaques</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record" title="Voyager Golden Record">Voyager Golden Record</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apollo_11_goodwill_messages" title="Apollo 11 goodwill messages">Apollo 11 goodwill messages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_insignia" title="NASA insignia">NASA insignia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_space-flown_Gemini_and_Apollo_medallions" title="NASA space-flown Gemini and Apollo medallions">Gemini and Apollo medallions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mission_patch" title="Mission patch">Mission patches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Hubble_Space_Telescope_anniversary_images" title="List of Hubble Space Telescope anniversary images">Hubble Space Telescope anniversary images</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align: center;;width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>"<a href="/wiki/We_choose_to_go_to_the_Moon" title="We choose to go to the Moon">We choose to go to the Moon</a>"</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apollo_8_Genesis_reading" title="Apollo 8 Genesis reading">Apollo 8 Genesis reading</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apollo_15_postal_covers_incident" title="Apollo 15 postal covers incident">Apollo 15 postal covers incident</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Module" title="Apollo Lunar Module">Apollo Lunar Module</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Mirror_Memorial" title="Space Mirror Memorial">Space Mirror Memorial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Astronaut_Monument" title="The Astronaut Monument">The Astronaut Monument</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lunar_sample_displays" title="Lunar sample displays">Lunar sample displays</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Moon_rock" title="Moon rock">Moon rocks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stolen_and_missing_Moon_rocks" title="Stolen and missing Moon rocks">stolen or missing</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_Astronaut_Hall_of_Fame" title="United States Astronaut Hall of Fame">U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/U.S._space_exploration_history_on_U.S._stamps" title="U.S. space exploration history on U.S. stamps">Space program on U.S. stamps</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fe,_Fi,_Fo,_Fum,_and_Phooey" title="Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, and Phooey">Apollo 17 Moon mice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moon_tree" title="Moon tree">Moon tree</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Monkeys_and_apes_in_space#United_States" title="Monkeys and apes in space">Other primates in space</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NASA_International_Space_Apps_Challenge" title="NASA International Space Apps Challenge">NASA International Space Apps Challenge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Astronauts_Day" title="Astronauts Day">Astronauts Day</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Astronaut_Day" title="National Astronaut Day">National Astronaut Day</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nikon_NASA_F4" title="Nikon NASA F4">Nikon NASA F4</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:NASA" title="Category:NASA"><b>Category</b></a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Commons page"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:NASA" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:NASA"><b>Commons</b></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="←_2003Orbital_launches_in_20042005_→618" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Orbital_launches_in_2004" title="Template:Orbital launches in 2004"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Orbital_launches_in_2004" title="Template talk:Orbital launches in 2004"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Orbital_launches_in_2004" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Orbital launches in 2004"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="←_2003Orbital_launches_in_20042005_→618" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><div style="float: left;"><a href="/wiki/2003_in_spaceflight" title="2003 in spaceflight">← 2003</a></div><a href="/wiki/2004_in_spaceflight" title="2004 in spaceflight"><span class="vevent"><span class="summary">Orbital launches in <span class="dtstart">2004</span></span></span></a><div style="float: right;"><a href="/wiki/2005_in_spaceflight" title="2005 in spaceflight">2005 →</a></div></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">January</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Telstar_14" title="Telstar 14">Estrela do Sul 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Progress_M1-11" title="Progress M1-11">Progress M1-11</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">February</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AMC-10_(satellite)" title="AMC-10 (satellite)">AMC-10</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=USA-176&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="USA-176 (page does not exist)">USA-176</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Molniya-1_No.93&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Molniya-1 No.93 (page does not exist)">Molniya-1 No.93</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">March</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)" title="Rosetta (spacecraft)">Rosetta</a> (<a href="/wiki/Philae_(spacecraft)" title="Philae (spacecraft)">Philae</a>)</li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=MBSat&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="MBSat (page does not exist)">MBSat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eutelsat_W3A" class="mw-redirect" title="Eutelsat W3A">Eutelsat W3A</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/USA-177" title="USA-177">USA-177</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Globus_No.17L&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Globus No.17L (page does not exist)">Globus No.17L</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">April</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Superbird-A2" title="Superbird-A2">Superbird-A2</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tansuo_1&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tansuo 1 (page does not exist)">Tansuo 1</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=Naxing_1&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Naxing 1 (page does not exist)">Naxing 1</a></li> <li><u><a href="/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-4" title="Soyuz TMA-4">Soyuz TMA-4</a></u></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gravity_Probe_B" title="Gravity Probe B">Gravity Probe B</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ekspress_AM-11" class="mw-redirect" title="Ekspress AM-11">Ekspress AM-11</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">May</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/DirecTV-7S" class="mw-redirect" title="DirecTV-7S">DirecTV-7S</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/AMC-11" title="AMC-11">AMC-11</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formosat-2" title="Formosat-2">Formosat-2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Progress_M-49" title="Progress M-49">Progress M-49</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Kosmos_2405&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kosmos 2405 (page does not exist)">Kosmos 2405</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">June</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Kosmos_2406&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kosmos 2406 (page does not exist)">Kosmos 2406</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intelsat_10-02" title="Intelsat 10-02">Intelsat 10-02</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/USA-178" title="USA-178">USA-178</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Telstar_18" title="Telstar 18">Telstar 18</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Demeter_(satellite)" title="Demeter (satellite)">Demeter</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=AprizeSat-1&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="AprizeSat-1 (page does not exist)">AprizeSat-1</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=AprizeSat-2&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="AprizeSat-2 (page does not exist)">AprizeSat-2</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=Saudisat-2&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Saudisat-2 (page does not exist)">Saudisat-2</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=SaudiComsat-1&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="SaudiComsat-1 (page does not exist)">SaudiComsat-1</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=SaudiComsat-2&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="SaudiComsat-2 (page does not exist)">SaudiComsat-2</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=UniSat-3&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="UniSat-3 (page does not exist)">UniSat-3</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=AMSAT-Echo&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="AMSAT-Echo (page does not exist)">AMSAT-Echo</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">July</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aura_(satellite)" title="Aura (satellite)">Aura</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anik_F2" class="mw-redirect" title="Anik F2">Anik F2</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Kosmos_2407&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kosmos 2407 (page does not exist)">Kosmos 2407</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tan_Ce_2&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tan Ce 2 (page does not exist)">Tan Ce 2</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">August</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Amazonas_1" title="Amazonas 1">Amazonas 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Progress_M-50" title="Progress M-50">Progress M-50</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fanhui_Shi_Weixing" title="Fanhui Shi Weixing">FSW-19</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=USA-179&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="USA-179 (page does not exist)">USA-179</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">September</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Ofek-6" class="mw-redirect" title="Ofek-6">Ofek-6</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shijian" title="Shijian">Shijian 6A</a>, <a href="/wiki/Shijian" title="Shijian">Shijian 6B</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GSAT-3" title="GSAT-3">GSAT-3 / EDUSAT</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Kosmos_2408&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kosmos 2408 (page does not exist)">Kosmos 2408</a>, <a href="/w/index.php?title=Kosmos_2409&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kosmos 2409 (page does not exist)">Kosmos 2409</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Kosmos_2410&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kosmos 2410 (page does not exist)">Kosmos 2410</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fanhui_Shi_Weixing" title="Fanhui Shi Weixing">FSW-3 2</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">October</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><u><a href="/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-5" title="Soyuz TMA-5">Soyuz TMA-5</a></u></li> <li><a href="/wiki/AMC-15_(satellite)" title="AMC-15 (satellite)">AMC-15</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fengyun" title="Fengyun">Fengyun 2C</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Ekspress_AM-1&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Ekspress AM-1 (page does not exist)">Ekspress AM-1</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">November</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Zi_Yuan_2C&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Zi Yuan 2C (page does not exist)">Zi Yuan 2C</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/USA-180" title="USA-180">USA-180</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tansuo_2&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tansuo 2 (page does not exist)">Tansuo 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neil_Gehrels_Swift_Observatory" title="Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory">Swift</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">December</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AMC-16" class="mw-redirect" title="AMC-16">AMC-16</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Helios_IIA&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Helios IIA (page does not exist)">Helios IIA</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nanosat_01" title="Nanosat 01">Nanosat 01</a>, <a href="/wiki/Essaim_1" class="mw-redirect" title="Essaim 1">Essaim 1</a>, <a href="/wiki/Essaim_2" class="mw-redirect" title="Essaim 2">Essaim 2</a>, <a href="/wiki/Essaim_3" class="mw-redirect" title="Essaim 3">Essaim 3</a>, <a href="/wiki/Essaim_4" class="mw-redirect" title="Essaim 4">Essaim 4</a>, <a href="/wiki/Parasol_(satellite)" title="Parasol (satellite)">Parasol</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=HLVOLSDP&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="HLVOLSDP (page does not exist)">HLVOLSDP</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sparkie_(satellite)" title="Sparkie (satellite)">Sparkie</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ralphie_(satellite)" title="Ralphie (satellite)">Ralphie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Progress_M-51" title="Progress M-51">Progress M-51</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sich-1M" title="Sich-1M">Sich-1M</a>, <a href="/wiki/MK-1TS" class="mw-redirect" title="MK-1TS">MK-1TS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kosmos_2411" title="Kosmos 2411">Kosmos 2411</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kosmos_2412" title="Kosmos 2412">Kosmos 2412</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kosmos_2413" title="Kosmos 2413">Kosmos 2413</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ).<br /><u>Crewed flights</u> are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="2011_in_space1000" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:2011_in_space" title="Template:2011 in space"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:2011_in_space" title="Template talk:2011 in space"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:2011_in_space" title="Special:EditPage/Template:2011 in space"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="2011_in_space1000" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2011 in space</div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div><div style="float: right;"><a href="/wiki/Template:2012_in_space" title="Template:2012 in space">2012</a> » </div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/2011_in_spaceflight" title="2011 in spaceflight">Space probe launches</a> <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Category:Space_probes_launched_in_2011" title="Category:Space probes launched in 2011"><img alt="Space probes launched in 2011" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/15px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/30px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft)" title="Juno (spacecraft)"><i>Juno</i></a> (Jupiter orbiter; Aug 2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/GRAIL" title="GRAIL">GRAIL</a> (mission to the Moon; Sep 2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yinghuo-1" title="Yinghuo-1">Yinghuo-1</a> (Mars orbiter); Nov 2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory" title="Mars Science Laboratory">Mars Science Laboratory</a> / <a href="/wiki/Curiosity_(rover)" title="Curiosity (rover)"><i>Curiosity</i> rover</a> (mission to Mars; Nov 2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fobos-Grunt" title="Fobos-Grunt">Fobos-Grunt</a> (mission to Mars; Nov 2011)</li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="7" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px;padding-left: 0.5em;"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kepler22b-artwork.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Kepler22b-artwork.jpg/150px-Kepler22b-artwork.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Kepler22b-artwork.jpg/225px-Kepler22b-artwork.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Kepler22b-artwork.jpg/300px-Kepler22b-artwork.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4096" data-file-height="3072" /></a></span><br /><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg/150px-Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="89" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg/225px-Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg/300px-Artist%27s_rendering_ULAS_J1120%2B0641.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4112" data-file-height="2438" /></a></span><br /><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Vesta_in_natural_color_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Vesta_in_natural_color_%28cropped%29.jpg/150px-Vesta_in_natural_color_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Vesta_in_natural_color_%28cropped%29.jpg/225px-Vesta_in_natural_color_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Vesta_in_natural_color_%28cropped%29.jpg/300px-Vesta_in_natural_color_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1220" data-file-height="915" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Selected <a href="/wiki/Near-Earth_object" title="Near-Earth object">NEOs</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_asteroid_close_approaches_to_Earth_in_2011" title="List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2011">Asteroid close approaches</a></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(367789)_2011_AG5" title="(367789) 2011 AG5">(367789) 2011 AG<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">5</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(471240)_2011_BT15" title="(471240) 2011 BT15">(471240) 2011 BT<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">15</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2011_CQ1" title="2011 CQ1">2011 CQ<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">1</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2011_ES4" title="2011 ES4">2011 ES<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">4</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2011_EO40" title="2011 EO40">2011 EO<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">40</span></span></a></span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_GA" title="2011 GA">2011 GA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_BD" title="2009 BD">2009 BD</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_MD" title="2011 MD">2011 MD</a></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(415029)_2011_UL21" title="(415029) 2011 UL21">(415029) 2011 UL<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">21</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(436724)_2011_UW158" title="(436724) 2011 UW158">(436724) 2011 UW<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">158</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(308635)_2005_YU55" title="(308635) 2005 YU55">(308635) 2005 YU<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">55</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(549948)_2011_WL2" title="(549948) 2011 WL2">(549948) 2011 WL<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">2</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2011_XC2" title="2011 XC2">2011 XC<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">2</span></span></a></span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_exoplanets_discovered_in_2011" title="List of exoplanets discovered in 2011">Exoplanets</a> <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Category:Exoplanets_discovered_in_2011" title="Category:Exoplanets discovered in 2011"><img alt="Exoplanets discovered in 2011" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/15px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/30px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/82_G._Eridani" title="82 G. Eridani">82 G. Eridani</a> <ul><li>b</li> <li>c</li> <li>d</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gliese_433" title="Gliese 433">Gliese 433 b</a></li> <li>habitability of <a href="/wiki/Gliese_581d" title="Gliese 581d">Gliese 581d</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gliese_3634_b" class="mw-redirect" title="Gliese 3634 b">Gliese 3634 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HAT-P-32b" title="HAT-P-32b">HAT-P-32b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HAT-P-33b" title="HAT-P-33b">HAT-P-33b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_1502" title="HD 1502">HD 1502 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_7199" title="HD 7199">HD 7199 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_30856" title="HD 30856">HD 30856 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_82886" title="HD 82886">HD 82886 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_85512_b" class="mw-redirect" title="HD 85512 b">HD 85512 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_96063" title="HD 96063">HD 96063 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_98219" title="HD 98219">HD 98219 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_100655" title="HD 100655">HD 100655 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_131496" title="HD 131496">HD 131496 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_137388" title="HD 137388">HD 137388 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HIP_57274" title="HIP 57274">HIP 57274</a> <ul><li>b</li> <li>c</li> <li><a href="/wiki/HIP_57274_d" title="HIP 57274 d">d</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HR_7722_c" class="mw-redirect" title="HR 7722 c">HR 7722 c</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-9d" title="Kepler-9d">Kepler-9d</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-10" title="Kepler-10">Kepler-10</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-10b" title="Kepler-10b">b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-10c" title="Kepler-10c">c</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11" title="Kepler-11">Kepler-11</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11b" title="Kepler-11b">b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11c" title="Kepler-11c">c</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11d" title="Kepler-11d">d</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11e" title="Kepler-11e">e</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11f" title="Kepler-11f">f</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-11g" title="Kepler-11g">g</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-14b" title="Kepler-14b">Kepler-14b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-16b" title="Kepler-16b">Kepler-16b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-18" title="Kepler-18">Kepler-18</a> <ul><li>b</li> <li>c</li> <li>d</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-20" title="Kepler-20">Kepler-20</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-20b" title="Kepler-20b">b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-20c" title="Kepler-20c">c</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-20d" title="Kepler-20d">d</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-20e" title="Kepler-20e">e</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-20f" title="Kepler-20f">f</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-22b" title="Kepler-22b">Kepler-22b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-39b" title="Kepler-39b">Kepler-39b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-70" title="Kepler-70">Kepler-70</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-70b" class="mw-redirect" title="Kepler-70b">b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-70c" class="mw-redirect" title="Kepler-70c">c</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LkCa_15_b" class="mw-redirect" title="LkCa 15 b">LkCa 15 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MOA-2009-BLG-387Lb" title="MOA-2009-BLG-387Lb">MOA-2009-BLG-387Lb</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/PSR_J1719%E2%88%921438_b" title="PSR J1719−1438 b">PSR J1719−1438 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WASP-39b" title="WASP-39b">WASP-39b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WASP-43b" title="WASP-43b">WASP-43b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WASP-44b" title="WASP-44b">WASP-44b</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Discoveries</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/UDFj-39546284" title="UDFj-39546284">UDFj-39546284</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swift_J1644%2B57" title="Swift J1644+57">Swift J1644+57</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kronberger_61" title="Kronberger 61">Kronberger 61</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WD_0806%E2%88%92661" title="WD 0806−661">WD 0806−661</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ULAS_J1120%2B0641" title="ULAS J1120+0641">ULAS J1120+0641</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kerberos_(moon)" title="Kerberos (moon)">Kerberos (moon)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/PSR_J1719%E2%88%921438" title="PSR J1719−1438">PSR J1719−1438</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uranus_trojan" class="mw-redirect" title="Uranus trojan">Uranus trojan</a> <span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2011_QF99" class="mw-redirect" title="2011 QF99">2011 QF<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">99</span></span></a></span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/U1.11" title="U1.11">U1.11</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SDSS_J102915%2B172927" title="SDSS J102915+172927">SDSS J102915+172927</a></li> <li>2 <a href="/wiki/Moons_of_Jupiter" title="Moons of Jupiter">moons of Jupiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GRB_111209A" title="GRB 111209A">GRB 111209A</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Nova" title="Nova">Novae</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/SN_2010lt" title="SN 2010lt">SN 2010lt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SN_2011by" title="SN 2011by">SN 2011by</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SN_2011dh" title="SN 2011dh">SN 2011dh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SN_2011fe" title="SN 2011fe">SN 2011fe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Comets <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Category:Comets_in_2011" title="Category:Comets in 2011"><img alt="Comets in 2011" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/15px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/30px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/P/2011_NO1_(Elenin)" class="mw-redirect" title="P/2011 NO1 (Elenin)"><span class="nowrap">P/2011 NO<sub>1</sub></span> (Elenin)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/45P/Honda%E2%80%93Mrkos%E2%80%93Pajdu%C5%A1%C3%A1kov%C3%A1" title="45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková">45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C/2011_W3_(Lovejoy)" title="C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy)">C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Space exploration</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i> (<a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a> orbital insertion; Apr 2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spirit_(rover)" title="Spirit (rover)"><i>Spirit</i></a> (end of mission; Mar 2010 / May 2011)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)" title="Dawn (spacecraft)"><i>Dawn</i></a> (<a href="/wiki/4_Vesta" title="4 Vesta">Vesta</a> orbital insertion; Jul 2011)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Earth-moon.jpg/32px-Earth-moon.jpg" decoding="async" width="32" height="26" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Earth-moon.jpg/48px-Earth-moon.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Earth-moon.jpg/64px-Earth-moon.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="2400" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Outer_space" title="Portal:Outer space">Outer space portal</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:2010_in_outer_space" title="Category:2010 in outer space">Category:2010 in outer space</a> — <b><a href="/wiki/Category:2011_in_outer_space" title="Category:2011 in outer space">Category:2011 in outer space</a></b> — <a href="/wiki/Category:2012_in_outer_space" title="Category:2012 in outer space">Category:2012 in outer space</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="2015_in_space1146" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:2015_in_space" title="Template:2015 in space"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:2015_in_space" title="Template talk:2015 in space"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:2015_in_space" title="Special:EditPage/Template:2015 in space"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="2015_in_space1146" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">2015 in space</div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><div style="float: left;"> « <span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/Template:2014_in_space" title="Template:2014 in space">2014</a></span> </div> <div style="float: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/Template:2016_in_space" title="Template:2016 in space">2016</a></span> » </div></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/2015_in_spaceflight" title="2015 in spaceflight">Space probe launches</a> <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Category:Space_probes_launched_in_2015" title="Category:Space probes launched in 2015"><img alt="Space probes launched in 2015" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/15px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/30px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;"><a href="/wiki/Space_probe" class="mw-redirect" title="Space probe">Space probes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Soil_Moisture_Active_Passive" title="Soil Moisture Active Passive">SMAP</a> (weather satellite; Jan 2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/LISA_Pathfinder" title="LISA Pathfinder">LISA Pathfinder</a> (technology demonstration; Dec 2015)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align: center;"><a href="/wiki/Space_telescope" title="Space telescope">Space observatories</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Deep_Space_Climate_Observatory" title="Deep Space Climate Observatory">DSCOVR</a> (weather satellite; Feb 2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Astrosat" class="mw-redirect" title="Astrosat">Astrosat</a> (space telescope; Sep 2015)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="7" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px;padding-left: 0.5em;"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg/150px-Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg/225px-Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg/300px-Pluto-new-horizons-2015-07-14-01.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2405" data-file-height="1804" /></a></span><br /><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg/150px-PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="84" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg/225px-PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg/300px-PIA20053-PossibleCometSwarmAroundKIC8462852-ArtistConcept-20151124.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4534" data-file-height="2550" /></a></span><br /><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg/150px-Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="84" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg/225px-Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg/300px-Black_hole_collision_and_merger_releasing_gravitational_waves.jpg 2x" data-file-width="620" data-file-height="349" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Impact_event" title="Impact event">Impact events</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/2015_Kerala_meteoroid" title="2015 Kerala meteoroid">2015 Kerala meteoroid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2015_Thailand_bolide" title="2015 Thailand bolide">2015 Thailand bolide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WT1190F" title="WT1190F">WT1190F impact</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Selected <a href="/wiki/Near-Earth_object" title="Near-Earth object">NEOs</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_asteroid_close_approaches_to_Earth_in_2015" title="List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2015">Asteroid close approaches</a></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_BP513" title="2015 BP513">2015 BP<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">513</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(357439)_2004_BL86" title="(357439) 2004 BL86">(357439) 2004 BL<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">86</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_AZ43" title="2015 AZ43">2015 AZ<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">43</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(523775)_2014_YB35" title="(523775) 2014 YB35">(523775) 2014 YB<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">35</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/1566_Icarus" title="1566 Icarus">1566 Icarus</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_HM10" title="2015 HM10">2015 HM<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">10</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_TC25" title="2015 TC25">2015 TC<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">25</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_TB145" title="2015 TB145">2015 TB<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">145</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2007_VE191" title="2007 VE191">2007 VE<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">191</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(33342)_1998_WT24" title="(33342) 1998 WT24">(33342) 1998 WT<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">24</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/(85989)_1999_JD6" title="(85989) 1999 JD6">(85989) 1999 JD<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">6</span></span></a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_SO2" title="2015 SO2">2015 SO<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">2</span></span></a></span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_exoplanets_discovered_in_2015" title="List of exoplanets discovered in 2015">Exoplanets</a> <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Category:Exoplanets_discovered_in_2015" title="Category:Exoplanets discovered in 2015"><img alt="Exoplanets discovered in 2015" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/15px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/30px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aldebaran_b" title="Aldebaran b">Aldebaran b</a></li> <li>evaporation of <a href="/wiki/Gliese_436_b" title="Gliese 436 b">Gliese 436 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gliese_1132_b" class="mw-redirect" title="Gliese 1132 b">Gliese 1132 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_155233_b" title="HD 155233 b">HD 155233 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_164595_b" title="HD 164595 b">HD 164595 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134" title="HD 219134">HD 219134</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134_b" title="HD 219134 b">b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134_c" title="HD 219134 c">c</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134_d" title="HD 219134 d">d</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134_f" title="HD 219134 f">f</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134_g" title="HD 219134 g">g?</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HD_219134_h" title="HD 219134 h">h</a>?</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HIP_11915_b" title="HIP 11915 b">HIP 11915 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/K2-3d" title="K2-3d">K2-3d</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/K2-18b" title="K2-18b">K2-18b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/K2-22b" title="K2-22b">K2-22b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/K2-24" title="K2-24">K2-24</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/K2-24b" title="K2-24b">b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/K2-24c" title="K2-24c">c</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/KELT-4Ab" title="KELT-4Ab">KELT-4Ab</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-438b" title="Kepler-438b">Kepler-438b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-440b" title="Kepler-440b">Kepler-440b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-442b" title="Kepler-442b">Kepler-442b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-444" title="Kepler-444">Kepler-444</a> <ul><li>b</li> <li>c</li> <li>d</li> <li>e</li> <li>f</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-451b" class="mw-redirect" title="Kepler-451b">Kepler-451b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-452b" title="Kepler-452b">Kepler-452b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kepler-453b" title="Kepler-453b">Kepler-453b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/KOI-4878.01" title="KOI-4878.01">KOI-4878.01</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LkCa_15_b" class="mw-redirect" title="LkCa 15 b">LkCa 15 b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/51_Pegasi_b#Direct_detection_of_visible_light" title="51 Pegasi b">spectrum of</a> <a href="/wiki/51_Pegasi_b" title="51 Pegasi b">51 Pegasi b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WASP-121b" title="WASP-121b">WASP-121b</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wolf_1061c" title="Wolf 1061c">Wolf 1061c</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Discoveries</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/2015_BP519" class="mw-redirect" title="2015 BP519">2015 BP<span style="position: relative; top: 0.3em;"><span style="font-size:80%;">519</span></span></a></span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/US_708" title="US 708">US 708</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/EGS-zs8-1" title="EGS-zs8-1">EGS-zs8-1</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(announced)</span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WISE_J224607.57%E2%88%92052635.0" title="WISE J224607.57−052635.0">WISE J224607.57−052635.0</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1SWASP_J093010.78%2B533859.5" title="1SWASP J093010.78+533859.5">1SWASP J093010.78+533859.5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ASASSN-15lh" title="ASASSN-15lh">ASASSN-15lh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/EGSY8p7" title="EGSY8p7">EGSY8p7</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tabby%27s_Star" title="Tabby's Star">Tabby's Star</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/541132_Lele%C4%81k%C5%ABhonua" title="541132 Leleākūhonua">541132 Leleākūhonua</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/VFTS_352" title="VFTS 352">VFTS 352</a> <a href="/wiki/Contact_binary" title="Contact binary">contact binary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/First_observation_of_gravitational_waves" title="First observation of gravitational waves">GW150914</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(first observation of <a href="/wiki/Gravitational_wave" title="Gravitational wave">gravitational waves</a>)</span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GW151226" title="GW151226">GW151226</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Comets <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Category:Comets_in_2015" title="Category:Comets in 2015"><img alt="Comets in 2015" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/15px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/30px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/15P/Finlay" title="15P/Finlay">15P/Finlay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C/2014_Q2_(Lovejoy)" title="C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)">C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/88P/Howell" title="88P/Howell">88P/Howell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C/2014_Q1_(PanSTARRS)" title="C/2014 Q1 (PanSTARRS)">C/2014 Q1 (PanSTARRS)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C/2015_G2_(MASTER)" title="C/2015 G2 (MASTER)">C/2015 G2 (MASTER)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C/2013_US10_(Catalina)" title="C/2013 US10 (Catalina)"><span class="nowrap">C/2013 US<sub>10</sub></span> (Catalina)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/67P/Churyumov%E2%80%93Gerasimenko" title="67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko">67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/10P/Tempel" title="10P/Tempel">10P/Tempel</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Space exploration</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)" title="Rosetta (spacecraft)">Rosetta</a></i> (orbiting <a href="/wiki/67P/Churyumov%E2%80%93Gerasimenko" title="67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko">comet 67P</a>; Nov 2014 / Mar 2015)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)" title="Dawn (spacecraft)">Dawn</a></i> (<a href="/wiki/Ceres_(dwarf_planet)" title="Ceres (dwarf planet)">Ceres</a> orbit insertion; Mar 2015)</li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MESSENGER</a></i> (end of mission; Apr 2015)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/New_Horizons" title="New Horizons">New Horizons</a></i> (flyby of <a href="/wiki/Pluto" title="Pluto">Pluto</a>; Jul 2015)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Akatsuki_(spacecraft)" title="Akatsuki (spacecraft)">Akatsuki</a></i> (<a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a> orbit insertion; Dec 2015)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Earth-moon.jpg/32px-Earth-moon.jpg" decoding="async" width="32" height="26" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Earth-moon.jpg/48px-Earth-moon.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Earth-moon.jpg/64px-Earth-moon.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3000" data-file-height="2400" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Outer_space" title="Portal:Outer space">Outer space portal</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:2014_in_outer_space" title="Category:2014 in outer space">Category:2014 in outer space</a> — <b><a href="/wiki/Category:2015_in_outer_space" title="Category:2015 in outer space">Category:2015 in outer space</a></b> — <a href="/wiki/Category:2016_in_outer_space" title="Category:2016 in outer space">Category:2016 in outer space</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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