MESSENGER is a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. Understanding Mercury, and the forces that have shaped it, is fundamental to understanding the terrestrial planets and their evolution.MESSENGER is a MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging mission to orbit Mercury following two flybys of that planet. The orbital phase will use the flyby data as an initial guide to perform a focused scientific investigation of this enigmatic world. MESSENGER will investigate key scientific questions regarding Mercury's characteristics and environment during these two complementary mission phases. MESSENGER will enter Mercury orbit in April 2009 and carry out comprehensive measurements for one Earth year. Orbital data collection concludes in April 2010.
TiNi P5 Pinpullers used to deploy the MASCS instrument cover door.
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/
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