NASA Mission to Mercury Nearing Its End

Surface of planet Mercury
(Image: Science/AAAS)
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One of America's great gifts to the world is its space exploration program. Among its accomplishments was the Messenger spacecraft, the first vessel to orbit the planet Mercury. Messenger has transmitted invaluable data about the first planet from the Sun. The information, according to a recent Scientific American article, has reshaped concepts about Mercury. These developments are exciting, and one would understand why NASA would have an urge to take a victory lap in recognition of a job well done.

The greater triumph, though, is the scientists' dedication to answering questions about the solar system that have been around since the time of the Pharaohs. Nailing down "truth" is a complicated activity in any field; the Messenger mission is a reminder that these endeavors are more than worth it.

First Orbiter Image of the Planet Mercury

Our solar system, a locus of fascination throughout human history, begrudgingly reveals its mysteries. Today's NASA release of the first image taken of Mercury's surface by an orbiting spacecraft is a splendid milestone for our understanding of the fiery planet. (The initial NASA announcement of the spacecraft's successful orbiting of Mercury is a useful, brief background piece.)

NASA will be releasing more photos in the coming days. I'm looking forward to seeing them, even if they're more images of cratered surfaces.

When one thinks about the subject, it is astonishing that a transmission can be accurately delivered through light years of space, accurately recomposed on Earth, and instantly shared with the world via the Internet. The ancients, who had powerful intellectual capabilities, could not have imagined such a trio of accomplishments. However, they would have appreciated the exploration of the planets. Just about any civilization that could look into the sky has used planetary orbits and relationships as a basis for their deepest thoughts. What's amazing is their ability to have very accurately measured planetary appearances and movements without the aid of instruments, such as telescopes. It did take brains, and thinkers from antiquity had that in abundance.

In a way, the NASA scientists have kept faith with what the ancients so deeply desired. Both groups used the sky's phenomena to unlock profound ways of thinking, delivered through astronomically based intellectual tools such as geometry. You can leverage the sky as well. Best thing about the sky is that it remains free, and free of charge.

The image shows the Messenger Moi spacecraft which is currently orbiting Mercury.