Support of the Messenger Principal Investigator
- Lead PI: Dr. Sean C. Solomon
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Unit Affiliation: Seismology, Geology and Tectonophysics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
- September 2013 - September 2017
- Inactive
- Global ; Mercury
- Project Type: Research
DESCRIPTION: Understanding Mercury and how it formed is critical to better understanding the conditions on and evolution of the inner planets. To address key science questions about Mercury's formation and evolution, MESSENGER journeyed through the inner solar system and became the first spacecraft ever to orbit Mercury.
OUTCOMES: Mercury is a volatile-rich planet, polar water ice deposits, offset magnetic field, hollows, volcanic deposits, global contraction, seasonal exosphere, dynamic magnetopshere, energetic electrons, field aligned currents
MISSION VIDEOS: https://messenger.jhuapl.edu/Explore/Videos.html