AMMS 2010 New York - Exploring Mercury with the MESSENGER Spacecraft

From Wicri Earth
Exploring Mercury with the MESSENGER Spacecraft



Annual meeting of the Meteoritical Society
This abstract is about the Barringer Invitational lecture of the Annual meeting of the Meteoritical Society 2010 New-York City symposium.


Sean C. Solomon.i


The MESSENGER spacecraft, developed under NASA’s Discovery Program, is the first space probe to investigate Mercury in more than 30 years. Sean Solomon, principal investigator of the MESSENGER mission, will discuss the importance of understanding Mercury’s high-density composition, geological history, and magnetic field. MESSENGER is on course to enter Mercury’s orbit in March 2011.