Mercury's Rising

[PPI Karl]

Sorry for the crap pun in the subject heading. 

At long last, though, MESSENGER will achieve Mercury orbit insertion today.  I wish I were available for the LIVE WEBCAST of the event, tonight @ 5:45 PM, PST.  Here's a quick blurb about it, from the JPL MESSENGER website.


On March 17, 2011 (March 18, 2011, UTC), MESSENGER will become the first spacecraft ever to enter Mercury's orbit. The probe will continue to orbit the planet once every 12 hours for the duration of its primary mission. The first few days after orbit insertion will be focused on ensuring that the spacecraft systems are all working well in the harsh thermal environment of orbit; this interval is known as the orbital commissioning phase. On March 24, 2011, the instruments will be turned on and checked out, and on April 4, 2011, the science phase of the mission will begin and the first orbital science data from Mercury will be returned.

[PPI Karl]

MESSENGER has successfully achieved orbit insertion, and the first of many fabulous closeup, hi-res photos to come has been released. 

I don't know why, but I have a soft-spot for these little planets.  I feel the same way about Pluto.  I guess I think of them as forgotten underdogs.  I remember reading a science fiction story as part of the SRA Reading Kit when I was a child; it chronicled the sentient life forms that existed on every planet of our solar system, and Mercury's "people" were described as rock-skinned, vulcanized squat beings.  That silly story "fired" up my imagination, though  ::|, and since then I've always wondered what Mercury would be like, for real.   The whole idea of have a dedicated probe in orbit around Mercury today absolutely amazes me, given the logistical difficulties of putting any sensitive technology that close to our sun.  I'm excited to find out, and actually see, what else MESSENGER learns in its mission in the years to come.

[Gary]

This is very cool.  I can't wait to see more pictures.  I'm glad you posted this Karl.  I don't remember seeing your original post on this.  Must have gotten lost.

[PPI Debra]

I also love looking at the planets.
How does a planet get demoted??? Poor Pluto. I was partial to Pluto.

[PPI Tim]

Maybe they will change thier minds once the rocket get there.