Exploration of Mercury
The exploration of
Compared to other planets, Mercury is difficult to explore. The speed required to reach it is relatively high, and its proximity to the Sun makes it difficult to maneuver a spacecraft into a stable orbit around it.[3] MESSENGER was the first probe to orbit Mercury.
Interest in Mercury
Few missions have targeted Mercury because it is very difficult to obtain a
Missions
Past missions
Mariner 10
The close observations collected two important sets of data. The probe detected Mercury's magnetic field, which is very similar to Earth's. This was a surprise to scientists, because Mercury spins so slowly on its axis. Secondly, visual data was provided, which showed the high number of craters on the surface of the planet.[10] The visual data also allowed scientists to determine that Mercury had "not experienced significant crustal modification”.[11] This also added to the mystery of the magnetic field, as it was previously believed that the magnetic fields are caused by a molten dynamo effect, but since there was little crustal modification this undermined that idea. The visual data also allowed scientists to investigate the composition and age of the planet.[12]
MESSENGER
MESSENGER used a chemical
The MESSENGER mission was designed to study the characteristics and environment of Mercury from orbit. Specifically, the scientific objectives of the mission were:[21][22]
- characterize the chemical composition of Mercury's surface.
- study the geologic history.
- elucidate the nature of Mercury's magnetic field (magnetosphere).
- determine the size and state of the core.
- determine the volatile inventory at the poles.
- study the nature of Mercury's exosphere.
Ongoing missions
BepiColombo
This mission to Mercury is to include two satellites: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, MMO). Each orbiter has a distinct purpose: the MPO is to acquire images in several wavelengths to map the surface and exosphere composition of Mercury, and Mio's is to study the magnetosphere. The European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are working in conjunction with BepiColombo and both provided one of the two orbiters. The ESA provided the MPO, while JAXA provided Mio.[3] The BepiColombo mission will attempt to gather enough information to answer these questions:
- What can we learn from Mercury about the composition of the solar nebula and the formation of the planetary system?
- Why is Mercury's normalized density markedly higher than that of all other terrestrial planets, as well as the Moon?
- Is the core of Mercury liquid or solid?
- Is Mercury tectonically active today?
- Why does such a small planet possess an intrinsic magnetic field, while Venus, Mars, and the Moon do not have any?
- Why do is supposedly the major constituent of Mercury?
- Do the permanently shadowed craters of the polar regions contain sulfur or water ice?
- What are the production mechanisms of the exosphere?
- In the absence of any ionosphere, how does the magnetic field interact with the solar wind?
- Is Mercury's magnetised environment characterized by features reminiscent of the aurorae, radiation belts and magnetosphericsubstorms observed on Earth?
- Since the advance of Mercury's space-time curvature, can we take advantage of the proximity of the Sun to test general relativity with improved accuracy?[3]
Like Mariner 10 and MESSENGER, BepiColombo will use gravity slingshots from Venus and Earth. BepiColombo will use solar electric propulsion (ion engines) and then also use similar maneuvers at the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. These techniques will slow the orbiters as they approach Mercury. It is essential to avoid using fuel to slow the orbiters as they get closer to the Sun to minimize the gravitational influence of the Sun.[2]
The BepiColombo mission was approved in November 2009,[23] and successfully launched on October 20, 2018. It is scheduled to enter orbit around Mercury in December 2025. Its primary mission will last until May 2027, with a possible extension to May 2028.[24]
Proposed missions
Mercury-P
Mercury-P (Меркурий-П) is a proposed mission to Mercury by the Russian Space Agency. The currently[when?] anticipated launch date is 2031. It is planned to be a lander.[citation needed]
Canceled missions
Mercury Observer
Mercury Observer was a cancelled proposal in the
Comparison of MESSENGER and BepiColombo
BepiColombo was designed to complement the findings of MESSENGER and is equipped with far more measuring equipment than MESSENGER to obtain a larger range of data. The orbit patterns of BepiColombo and MESSENGER are significantly different.[15]
The BepiColombo mission comprises two satellites launched together: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, MMO). The MPO will have a circular orbit much closer to Mercury. The reason for this orbit is that the MPO will be measuring the composition of the surface and exosphere, and the close orbit will aid on data quality. On the other hand, Mio (MMO) and MESSENGER took largely
See also
- Colonization of Mercury
References
- ^ JHU/APL (2006). MESSENGER: MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging Retrieved on 2007-01-27
- ^ a b c Munsell Kirk-editor (November 6, 2006). NASA: Solar System Exploration: Missions to Mercury Archived September 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ a b c ESA (2007). BepiColombo. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- ^ Ley, Willy (July 1968). "Interplanetary Communications". For Your Information. Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 116–124.
- ^ Munsell Kirk-editor (November 6, 2006). NASA: Solar System Exploration: Planet Mercury Archived September 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ "Critical decisions on Cosmic Vision".
- ^ Shirley, 2003
- ^ Dunne, James A. (1978). The Voyage of Mariner 10: Mission to Venus and Mercury (NASA SP-424). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 45. ASIN B000C19QHA.
- ISBN 9780231039963.
- ^ Dunne, 1978, p. 74
- ^ Dunne, 1978, p. 101
- ^ Dunne, 1978, p. 103
- ^ Malik, T. (2004). Mercury MESSENGER Launch Postponed. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
- ^ NBC News (2004). NASA launches spacecraft to Mercury. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
- ^ .
- ^ Planetary Society(2007) Space Topics: MESSENGER Archived April 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 11, 2010
- ^ "MESSENGER Provides New Look at Mercury's Landscape, Metallic Core, and Polar Shadows" (Press release). Johns Hopkins University. March 21, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ "MESSENGER Completes Its First Extended Mission at Mercury". JHU–APL. March 17, 2013. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ Wu, Brian (April 3, 2014). "NASA Set to Extend Mercury Mission for Another Month". Johns Hopkins University APL. The Science Times. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
- ^ "MESSENGER's Operations at Mercury Extended". Johns Hopkins University APL. Space Ref. April 3, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "MESSENGER - Mission description". NASA. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ "Discovery Program: MESSENGER". NASA. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ "BepiColombo Overview". European Space Agency. September 5, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "BepiColombo: Fact Sheet". European Space Agency. September 1, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- .
External links
- Mariner 10
- MESSENGER probe
- Shirley, Donna L. (August 2003). The Mariner 10 mission to Venus and Mercury. Acta Astronautica, Aug 2003, Vol. 53, Issue 4–10, p375, 11p; (AN 11471527).