On this day in space! Aug. 3, 2004: NASA launches MESSENGER spacecraft to orbit Mercury

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft aimed to orbit Mercury for the first time to hunt for clues of water on the tiny, innermost planet.

The top 3

  1. First Spacecraft to Visit Mercury: NASA's Mariner 10, launched in November 1973, was the first probe to visit Mercury, performing three flybys between 1974 and 1975 and mapping about 35% of its cratered surface.
  2. First Spacecraft to Orbit Mercury: NASA's MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) became the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury on March 18, 2011, after a nearly seven-year journey.
  3. Next-Generation Mission to Mercury: The BepiColombo mission, a collaboration between ESA and JAXA launched in 2018, is currently en route and expected to deliver two orbiters into Mercury's orbit in 2025 or 2026 for comprehensive study.

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