Mercury Exploration: Looking to the FuturePrior to the return of data from the NASA MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft], information relating to Mercury was limited. From the NASA Mariner 10 flybys, in 1974 and 1975, ~45% of the planet was imaged, its magnetic field was detected, H, He, and O in the exosphere were measured, and other physical characteristics of the planet were determined. Despite these data, much information about Mercury still had to be inferred. It was over 30 years before MESSENGER provided the first in-depth study of the innermost planet. Orbiting Mercury from 2011 to 2015, the MESSENGER spacecraft was able to image the entirety of the planet and thus provide the first global view of Mercury. Coupling multispectral images with data from MESSENGER geochemical instruments, we have developed a better understanding of the geochemical terranes on the planet and the unique nature of Mercury’s composition compared to the other terrestrial planets. MESSENGER also provided data that have led to great advancements in understanding the internal structure, exosphere, and magnetosphere of Mercury. The treasure trove of MESSENGER data reveal Mercury as a geochemical end-member among the terrestrial planets. However, we are left with many questions that can only be answered with further exploration.
Document ID
20190002720
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kaaden, K. E. Vander (Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Blewett, D. T. (Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Byrne, P. K. (North Carolina State Univ. Raleigh, NC, United States)
Chabot, N. L. (Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Ernst, C. M. (Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Hauck, S. A., II (Case Western Reserve Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)
McCubbin, F. M. (ARES Corp. Houston, TX, United States)
Mazarico, E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)