Mercury probe sends Venus pics

Posted: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:10 PM by Alan Boyle

NASA today released the first pictures from this month's flyby of Venus by the Messenger spacecraft, which is on its way to the $427 million mission's main event at Mercury. The black-and-white snapshots provide just a preliminary taste of what is said to be a spectacular portfolio comprising more than 600 images.

NASA / JHU-APL

This black-and-white image was captured as
Messenger closed in on Venus.

Messenger got as close as 210 miles (338 kilometers) from Venus during the June 5 encounter, giving the mission team a chance to put the probe's Mercury Dual Imaging System to the test. Once Messenger gets to Mercury, it will use the wide-angle/narrow-angle camera system to map out landforms and gather data on surface composition.

The cameras weren't designed specifically to show off cloud-shrouded Venus to its best advantage, but Messenger's principal investigator, Sean Solomon of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, said in a news release that the dress rehearsal was a "huge success." The probe's aim was so good that a course correction planned for July will not be necessary after all, he said.

Arizona State University's Mark Robinson, a member of the Messenger science team, said the most detailed image released today, taken on June 5, would be used to fine-tune the MDIS.

"Venus is enshrouded by a global cloud layer that obscures its surface to the MDIS," Robinson explained. "This single frame is part of a color sequence taken inbound to help us calibrate the wide-angle camera in preparation for its first flyby of Mercury next January. Over the next several months the camera team will pore over the 614 images taken during the Venus 2 encounter to adjust color sensitivity parameters and better understand the geometric properties of the instrument."

NASA / JHU-APL

This sequence shows Venus receding as
Messenger flew away on June 5-6.

Another series of images released today shows Venus receding in Messenger's rear-view mirror over a 25-hour-plus period on June 5 and 6. "These images provide a spectacular goodbye to the cloud-shrouded planet while also providing valuable data to the camera calibration team," Robinson said.

He said a preliminary analysis of the images indicated that "the cameras are healthy and will be ready for next January's close encounter with Mercury."

The Messenger spacecraft was launched in 2004 and made its first Venus flyby last October. This month's encounter was the second Venus flyby. January's encounter will be Messenger's first brush with Mercury - additional flybys are scheduled in October 2008 and September 2009, with the probe settling into orbit around the first rock from the sun in March 2011.

The mission is being managed by Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory on NASA's behalf.

The images released today may be the first from this month's flyby, but they won't be the last. Solomon promised that the science team would release further data "as fast as we can." So stay tuned for still more Venusian views - and mark your calendar for the probe's Jan. 14 date with Mercury.

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Comments

Ok, somebody help me out here. The Messenger probe was launched from the 3rd planet on the way to the 1st. Why then, does the photo captioned as taken when the probe was "closing in" on Venus show the sunlit side and the mostly dark side as it "flew away". Has Lassie decided to come home after all?

Joe, Chicago IL (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 3:40 AM)

So we add another tiny piece of information to the gigantic puzzle that is our solar system and with every new discovery it seems our 'home' gets weirder and more wonderful. Go Messenger!

cody mccall, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 4:36 AM)

What a beautiful planet; it deserves its name.

Cliff Foreman, Lookout Mtn., GA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 7:53 AM)

So I take it that Messenger wasn't equipped with a UV-sensitive CCD?

Alan Sheets, Loveland CO (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:45 AM)

Are we going everywhere but Europa??? What is with all the visits to obsure places when Europa may be more promicing than Mars? Oh I forgot, actually searching for other life has become taboo with the current administration.

Chris E (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:52 AM)

I wonder what NASA will do with the MESSENGER probe at the end of its life-cycle? Will they simply let it smash into Mercury, or toss it out of orbit for a date with the sun? Seems to me, if possible that would be best.. Since we knwo so little about Mercury, Id hate to see us smashing unneeded spacecraft into it, and the sun.. Is a perfect incinerator...

Gregory Hatcher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 1:31 PM)

For Joe from Chicago: It has to do with orbital mechanics and the use of a planet's gravity to change the path a spacecraft is taking. In this case, Messenger passed by Venus on the sunward side of the planet, and has been slingshotted (initially) further from the sun (explaining why Venus was then in shadow), into another elliptical orbit that will eventually take it towards intersections with Mercury's orbit several times, where Mercury will change its path further. The page that "this month's flyby" links to has a link to a video showing the orbital maneuvers Messenger is taking to reach Mercury.

Rich, Tracy CA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 5:20 PM)

Joe, Go look up Messenger, and you will find "the current position of the MESSENGER spacecraft, as well as the full orbital path since launch. The image also shows the orbits and current positions of Mercury, Venus and Earth." :)

http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/whereis/index.php

Jessica, Sultan, WA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 7:17 PM)

It's travelling amazingly fast. All that distance in one day as depicted in the photo sequence. Must be equal to maybe 1.5 earth-moon radii. It's odd to think that gravity assist is needed for the inner planets too (but for very different reasons).

Thomas Ashby, Calgary (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 10:49 PM)

I SEE SCIENCE HAS ADVANCED, AS IT WAS FORETOLD BY SOME PERSON 2,000 YEARS AGO...ONGRATULATIONS TO THE GREAT TEAM.

SOME MONTHS AGO, I WATCHED SOME PICTURES OF A LITTLE BOY, TRYNG TO WALK (BUT HE COULD not) towards some food very very far away (hewas almost skin and bones), while a bird was waiting for him to stop moving... to eat him up...

IT HURTS TO SEE THAT PEOPLE DIE OF HUNGER, WHILE THEIR BROTHERS TRY TO REACH THE PLANETS... THAT AFTER ALL, NOT EVEN LIFE IS POSSIBLE ON...THINK ABOUT IT...

IT HURT SO MUCH, THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER KILLED HIMSELF AFTER TAKING AND DELIVERING THOSE PICTURES.

DR. ROBERTO SAAVEDRA REGALADO, TIJUANA, MEXICO (Sent Saturday, June 16, 2007 3:00 PM)

"Are we going everywhere but Europa??? What is with all the visits to obsure places when Europa may be more promicing than Mars? Oh I forgot, actually searching for other life has become taboo with the current administration.
Chris E (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:52 AM) "

Till someone comes up with the technology to allow exploration of an alien ocean buried deep under ice I seriously doubt that studying Europa would be very productive. Ice Balls obiting massive planets that far from the sun aren't easy to get to much less explore.

The Present Administration has supported all the amazing progress of the last few years.

Wayne Young, Morristown Tennessee (Sent Saturday, June 16, 2007 3:57 PM)

For Dr. Saavedra,
Humans have always gazed at the stars or other bright distractions while all that lay at their feet crumbled.
When that photographer looked at his feet, the truth was unbearable.

Dan, Shijiazhuang, PR China (Sent Sunday, June 17, 2007 2:08 AM)

Our religions have not helped us to develop our collective commpassion. It is my hope that these amazing images of our universal environment will.

Brian White, Llandeilo, Wales, U.K. (Sent Sunday, June 17, 2007 3:30 AM)

Wayne Young, It is said that any microscopic life below the surface of Europa would be carried to the surface and frozen when the moon goes through its surface cracking and gap refilling. Such DNA could be tested for 'on the surface' with a handheld DNA tester much like criminologists now are given. There are indeed ways of melting through the ice as well!

Chris E (Sent Monday, June 18, 2007 9:00 AM)

I wish that Messenger had taken a series of receding shots of Earth similar to those taken of Venus. Then perhaps we could begin to appreciate that our planet is just an insignificant blue speck in the black void of space.

Perhaps eons ago when our sun was warmer the hot property in our solar system was the fourth rock. Perhaps it was populated by a lemming-like race similar to our own who had the good sense to check out the neighboring real estate before they completely trashed their own digs and just maybe a few of them made it to the third rock just before the lights (and the heat) was turned off back home.

This might be an excellent opportunity for us to expand our knowledge and our options. For, as Dr. Hawking believes, we may need another place to live, if the human species is to survive.

W. A. Nicholson (Sent Monday, June 18, 2007 11:12 AM)

Provided of course Europan life forms use DNA recognizable to devices designed for Earth life, or any DNA at all. Also, how long could Earth based DNA remain intact on the surface of Europa, considering the intense radiation bands eminating from Jupiter?

Patrick (Sent Tuesday, June 19, 2007 9:12 AM)

"IT HURTS TO SEE THAT PEOPLE DIE OF HUNGER, WHILE THEIR BROTHERS TRY TO REACH THE PLANETS... THAT AFTER ALL, NOT EVEN LIFE IS POSSIBLE ON...THINK ABOUT IT..."

Think about what? Are you suggesting that mankind not be permitted to explore and learn untill there are no more poor people? And why is it that whenever we manage something cool in space, usualy on a shoestring budget using less than 1% of our nation's budget, that people such as yourself come swooping in to chastize us about the evils of accomplishment?

The space program has tangible positive returns to mankind, such as better weather forcasting which has lead to higher crop yields, feeding more of these starving people you're talking about.

So why is the space program the favorite target of complainers like you? Why not military expendeture, which is more than HALF of our budget and certainly does more to promote human misery than NASA. Go haunt a military blog.

Patrick (Sent Tuesday, June 19, 2007 9:23 AM)

"Till someone comes up with the technology to allow exploration of an alien ocean buried deep under ice I seriously doubt that studying Europa would be very productive. Ice Balls obiting massive planets that far from the sun aren't easy to get to much less explore.Wayne Young, Morristown Tennessee (Sent Saturday, June 16, 2007 3:57 PM)"

On the Contrary Wayne,

Going to planets further from the Sun is actually easier then those closer. Most missions to planets closer to the Sun then Earth (Venus and Mercury) tend to first go to Jupiter and then back inward because it requires less fuel. Using planets to sling shot satalites seems to become the answer to budget cuts. To travel to Jupiter requires less energy then sending a probe to the Sun, this comes from the basic laws of conservation of energy.

Nathan Tucson, Arizona (Sent Tuesday, June 19, 2007 6:29 PM)

all of these solar systems out there just goes to prove that there is a god,the great creator of all, all though many refuse to believe it.but wheather they believe it or dont believe it doesn,t change a thing.

willard eversole (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 7:56 PM)

On the contrary, nathan...

Lets not confuse "going by" with "landing on and testing". Yes, we get nice fly by photos, but thats it. Notice that all of these photos of the further planets are at huge distances... There's a reason for that. Massive belts of space debris makes close fly bys impossible. So while it may be easier to get in the neighborhood, sitting on the porch when you get there is a lot harder. Besides, the type of ice on that surface isn't the same stuff you're putting in your bourbon. That surface makes Mars look like a sandy beach in Florida

Whiterabbit, Augusta, Me (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:24 PM)

Our military budget is a lot -- $626 billion counting pretty much everything. But that simply is not half of our budget. The total Federal budget this year is 2.9 terabucks (trillion) versus the guns'n'bombs segment at .62 terabuck.

Mark Bell (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:51 PM)

To the folks NOT from the U.S. who are squawking about spending all this money to explore Mercury....
what the heck are you griping about??!? YOUR country isn't paying a dime for this but you are still getting the benefit of all the knowledge obtained by Messenger.

Mr. Schwump, Mt Pilot, NC. (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:13 PM)

Folks perhaps a little more wide eyed wonder and a little less useless politics are in order. Read the article to your kids - they will make you remember how you felt during Apollo, Viking, Mars Lander, etc.

Good science.

Gordon, Austin (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:42 PM)

Yay!!! Venus is my favorite planet!!!!!!

BTW, are my eyes acting weird or does the image of Venus at the top of the page move to the right as you look at it. The same thing happened to the Image on Wikipedia...are my eyes weird or is it moving?

John Doe, Washington (Sent Friday, January 11, 2008 12:48 AM)

The exploration, and eventual colonization, of space is a necessity to our survival as a species. We are on a ticking timebomb. We only have so much time to find another home before this one is no longer habitable, whether by our own doing or some twist of fate. Having all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea. Colonizing and exploration is not only necessary, but our duty as a species. for those who are religious minded: Why would God make us able to colonize other worlds, give us the wisdom to get there, and indeed, make other worlds at all for that matter, if we were never supposed to leave here? I feel it is a deep insult to the divine for us NOT to explore, for us NOT to strive to understand the universe, for us NOT to try to solve the great mysteries. Each formula understood, each genetic code deciphered, every star system expllored, brings us that much closer to understanding God's plan, not just for humanity, but for the universe as a whole.

BravDos DeRom (Sent Friday, January 11, 2008 2:12 AM)

Good post BravDos!
Well said, and if we can get out of the 16th century,
(Or Cheney-time, as I call it) we may yet make it!

Understanding Gods plan? Heck, thats easy- to do things like this! Lets go meet the neighbors! I'm sure God would agree, as I hear SHE is very into mysteries and wonders.

BT-Northern California (Sent Monday, January 14, 2008 2:51 PM)

yall are type stupid. who cares? going to mercury really doesn't help us at all. let's face it. how does it help us colonize other planets? is it really our duty to explore other planets? for what exactly? oil? LOL. look maybe we can colonize the moon. But how well do you really think we'd live there. No better than living under water here on earth. Or even underground because that's basicly what we'd do on the moon or on Mars. We have yet to find a planet similar to earth and i doubt we will while the human race is in existence. When we do we won't be able to get there because it is physically impossible to cross that much space. perhaps we can send out seeds of life all over the universe and one day it can find a home. but to transplant humanity? that aint happening yall. and yall can take that to the bank ya heard. lets fix out lil 'ol planet here. lets give it a little TLC. No matter what we find out there won't be better suited for us than good 'ol globally warmed, war torn planet earth.

THE PROPHET (Sent Tuesday, January 15, 2008 4:44 PM)

Prophet,
I would tend to agree with you that sending a probe to investigate a known dead planet with no chance of life ever being on it in the past is a waste of time and money.
In regards to the purpose of going to the moon, It would be a great asset in exploring the solar system. The amount of fuel needed for a lunar take off is greatly reduced and thus saving money in the long run. The materials on the moon could be utilzed to make a permanent facility in the same way we use natural resources on earth to create stone and adobe structures.
Maybe with the advances in alternative fuels, we may yet find a way to make a solar array that would be able to power a lunar outpost and eventually an interplanetary craft.
The next step in colonizing other planets has to be looking at the moon. It has the one main aspect in dealing with real estate, its location. How can we feasably consider us able to colonize other planets if we cant even do it to our own moon?
We are destined to explore our solor system and beyond. We need to look to the future. At the same time though, we need to at least try to fix what we have destroyed here.

Steve, Buckeye, AZ (Sent Saturday, January 26, 2008 10:31 AM)

you want to fix our planet? get rid of all the world leaders and politicians and lawyers!! that's our problem!!

who cares (Sent Monday, February 04, 2008 5:37 PM)

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