NASA is preparing to launch a spacecraft to explore the planet that has been neglected for almost 30 years
Pictured: Mercury's transit across the Sun, 2003
NASA is preparing to launch a spacecraft that will explore the planet that has been neglected for almost 30 years. The spacecraft, which will be named Messenger, is currently under construction at Astrotech in Titusville, Florida, awaiting transfer to the Canaveral Fun.
The sophisticated spacecraft will fly to Mercury - the planet Mercury which is the innermost planet in the solar system. The design of the spacecraft is unique in order to allow it to survive in extreme heat conditions that the spacecraft will experience near the sun. The side of the vessel facing the sun was designed to absorb heat at an intensity of 480 degrees Celsius. The side away from the sun contains most of the spacecraft's electronics and will be kept at around room temperature.
The only spacecraft to visit Mercury was Mariner 10 30 years ago. The small spacecraft made a simple pass by the planet and took some pictures as it passed by.
For many scientists, Mercury is a planet with a lot of mystery. "We believe that there may be ice in the craters near the polar regions that do not receive sunlight, but on the rest of the planets the temperature reaches 480 degrees. "said Dr. Robert Gold of Johns Hopkins University.
Messenger is scheduled for launch on August 2nd, however it is possible that delays of other launches will cause NASA to postpone the launch. Senior officials say that due to the current alignment of the planets, the spacecraft must be launched by August 14, otherwise NASA will be forced to postpone the launch to July next year.
