"Messenger" close to Mercury

Convergence probe NASA "messenger" (Messenger) with Mercury was successful, reported the official website of the mission. Staff began to approach the sixth of October.

According to radio signals, derived from a probe, the system "messenger" function normally. Seventh-October 2008, the probe will transfer the collected during the convergence of data. Among them, more than 1200 images of much of the surface of the planet (about 30 per cent), which had never before been photographed.

One of the goals is to change the trajectory detour probe under the influence of gravity of Mercury, so that by 2011 the unit moved into orbit around the planet, becoming its first artificial satellite. Currently probe revolves around the Sun.

Spacecraft "messenger" was launched in 2004 to explore Mercury. The main purpose of the mission is to collect data on the magnetic field of this planet, the chemical composition of the surface, the geological history. As part of the mission scheduled three rapprochement with the Mercury: first rapprochement occurred 10 Jan., 2008, a third is scheduled for September 2009.