Today, in the history of Astronomy, Mariner 10 has its second encounter with mercury.
Meriner 10 created three flybies of mercury, which is shown in an image of an increased-rang from NASA’s Messenger investigation almost four decades later. Credit: NASA / JHHU Applied Physics Lab / Carnegie Institute. Washington
- Meriner 10, launched on November 3, 1973, performed its second mercury flybe on 21 September 1974 at an estimated distance of 48,000 km.
- Meriner 10 was the first spacecraft to visit mercury and also included the first mission designed for a dual-plan encounter, including Venus.
- The objectives of the mission included the physical properties of the mercury, examining atmospheric conditions and capturing photographic and scientific data.
- Across their three mercury flybes, Mariner 10 acquired more than 2,700 images, resulting in a maping of the surface of the mercury, focusing on the south polar region.
On September 21, 1974, Meriner 10 spacecraft made its second flybi the second flyb of mercury, which passed away from the surface at a distance of just 30,000 miles (48,000 km). Launched on 3 November 1973, Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft sent to Merkari, as well as the first mission designed for traveling two planets. (He also visited Venus.) The goals of the investigation in the mercury included studying the physical characteristics and atmosphere of the planet and collecting photos and data. Across his three flybes, Meriner 10 took more than 2,700 photos, eventually about half of the surface of the mercury. In September 1974, the second pass was particularly focused on the South Poll.
