8/3/03 ~ 2:15:56am
Homepage Launch Photos
A Boeing Delta 2-Heavy rocket, with slightly larger Solid Rocket Boosters than a typical Delta 2, launches NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft on a long journey to the planet Mercury, which has been visited by just one man made object previously. Mariner 10 flew by the planet three times in 1973-74. MESSENGER, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging mission, successfully entered orbit around Mercury on March 17, 2011.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
<--- SIRTF (Spitzer) GPS 2R-13 --->
