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The Messenger has been taking high resolution shots ever since it left earth’s atmosphere on August 3, 2004.

The messenger is on a science mission to answer 6 key questions.

1. Why is Mercury so dense?

   Mercury’s density implies that a metal-rich core occupies at least 60% of the planet’s mass, a figure twice as great as for Earth! MESSENGER will acquire compositional and mineralogical information to distinguish among the current theories for why Mercury is so dense.

2. What is the geologic history of Mercury?

   Only 45% of the surface of Mercury has been imaged by a spacecraft! Using its full suite of instruments, MESSENGER will investigate the geologic history of Mercury in great detail, including the portions of the planet never seen by Mariner 10.

3. What is the nature of Mercury’s magnetic field?

   Mercury has a global internal magnetic field, as does Earth, but Mars and Venus do not. By characterizing Mercury’s magnetic field, MESSENGER will help answer the question of why the inner planets differ in their magnetic histories.

4. What is the structure of Mercury’s core?

   Through a combination of measurements of Mercury’s gravity field and observations by the laser altimeter, MESSENGER will determine the size of Mercury’s core and verify that Mercury’s outer core is molten.

5. What are the unusual materials at Mercury’s poles?

   At Mercury’s poles, some crater interiors have permanently shadowed areas that contain highly reflective material at radar wavelengths. Could this material be ice, even though Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun? MESSENGER will find out.

6. What volatiles are important at Mercury?

   MESSENGER will measure the composition of Mercury’s thin exosphere, providing insights into the processes that are responsible for its existence.

Pretty cool. While most people will read this article with wonder I read into it a little differently. This mission was not accomplished by lowering the standards on testing in school so that everybody feels good about themselves. It was not made possible by marginalizing the gifted, through affirmative action, on the heels of ritalin for over rambunctious boys or any of the social engineering crap that is being forced onto our children by liberal feminists that have infected our school systems. This mission was made possible by the hard work of truly gifted scientists and engineers who competed to get ahead of the class. Many of them probably did so despite the obstacles laid in their path by ideologically driven activists in the U.S. educational infrastructure.

You can read more about the Messenger Mission at NASA’s Messenger website.

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