Title :
MESSENGER - A Highly Constrained Mission to the Innermost Planet
Author :
Paul, Michael V. ; Finnegan, Eric J.
Author_Institution :
Appl. Phys. Lab., Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD
Abstract :
MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) is a NASA Discovery Program mission to the Sun´s closest neighbor. Launched on August 3, 2004, the spacecraft must fly in a cruise trajectory for almost seven years, circling the Sun 15 times and traveling approximately five billion miles before finally achieving orbit around Mercury.
Keywords :
Mercury (planet); space research; space vehicles; MESSENGER; MErcury Surface Space ENvironment GEochemistry Ranging; Mercury surface; NASA Discovery Program mission; constrained mission; innermost planet; space environment; Earth; Gold; Mercury (planets); Optical arrays; Physics; Planets; Propulsion; Space vehicles; Sun; Temperature;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2008 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1487-1
Electronic_ISBN :
1095-323X
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2008.4526262
