Instructify

Not since Mariner 10 traveled to Mercury back in 1974- 1975 has a spacecraft been sent back. That is, until now. The Mariner’s mission was programmed to pass the planet three times. However, all the images captures were from only one side of the planet.

On August 3, 2004 NASA launched its Messenger space craft into space. Its mission is to travel to Mercury. It is expected to reach the planet’s orbit on March 18, 2011. Messenger will spend a year orbiting the planet and providing enriching information to help answer some of the questions scientists have had about the closest planet to our sun.Visit NASA’s Messenger site to become part of the mission.

The site includes up-to-the-minute clocks that record the elapsed time of the mission as well as the Orbit Insertion time. Watch the actual August 3, 2004 launch of Messenger from mission control. You can take your class through a tour of images already taken by Messenger as it zooms toward Mercury.

Your students can read up on the mission through Media Resources on the site. Show them an actual diagram of the spacecraft and read up on all of the instruments that are on-board. Your students will see how scientists work together in collaboration to make this mission possible by visiting the “Team” section on the site. The Mission Timeline will reveal how the mission is progressing and the dates and planets Messenger will pass on its way to its destination.

Don’t let this great scientific teachable moment pass you by. Integrate this historical mission into your upcoming school year. -MONIQUE ST.LOUIS

NASA - Messenger - Unlocking the Secrets of Mercury

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