MESSENGER
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MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. The name is a backronym for Mercur
Artist's rendering of MESSENGER orbiting Mercury
X-Ray spectrometer
The assembly of MESSENGER's solar panels by APL technicians.
Technicians prepare MESSENGER for transfer to a hazardous processing facility.
Caloris Planitia
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Caloris Planitia is a plain within a large impact basin on Mercury, informally named Caloris, about 1,550 km in diameter. It is one of the largest impact basins in the Solar System. "Calor" is Latin f
MESSENGER's first image of the unseen side of Mercury from a distance of about 27,000 kilometres (17,000 mi) cropped to highlight Caloris. The rim is hard to discern as the Sun is directly overhead, preventing shadows.
Comparison of the original estimated size of the Caloris basin (yellow) with that based on images from the MESSENGER probe (blue).
Hilly, lineated terrain at the antipode of Caloris.
Close up of the chaotic terrain.