MESSENGER does it again

Hi,

The MESSENGER probe has now just completed its third and final fly-by of Mercury receiving a gravity sling to enable it to enter orbit in March of 2011.

Some amazing images of unseen portions (apart from low resolution earth based images) of the planet. A glitch, when the spacecraft entered 'safe mode' may have prevented some data being returned.
But the probe is operating normally once again.

The website for John Hopkins University ( messenger.jhuapl.edu/ ) had loads of information.

John

Wow John, at least it got some shots returned, and to see some unimaged parts is exciting. I really like the large basin. The bright spot is cool too.

The 'paw print' is unique also.

Keith..

Very nice pictures there. Some of them seem to show a sense of ablation on Mercury's surface, like the solar wind has blasted some craters into smooth basins and such. Not a nice place for a sunshine holiday though...

Seanie.

The return from these unmanned satellite missions is something else! One of the more impressive results from the past few days is the "Bigfoot" footprint which is now making rounds around the world.

Anyway, all of this stuff is something one could feast on for a lifetime. One can never get enough!

Anthony.

That Bigfoot image made sky news today..
a bit of a tongue in cheek report but
still gets the people interested I suppose...
More was made about the 'First Clown in Space' thing also.
All I want to say is FAIR PLAY to him!!!
If I had the cash I'd sooooo do the same...
and ya know what...
space tourism is good for space exploration!
M2C anyway.