Exploring Mercury

Strom: Mercury How did Mercury get such an enormous iron core? Why is its tectonic framework so different from any other planet or satellite? What is its crystal composition? Why is the crust so depleted in iron when the interior is so rich in that element? What are the polar deposits? Where do the elements in the exosphere come from? Mercury is a planet shrouded in mystery. Only 45 percent of its surface has been seen in any detail, and that was from the Mariner 10 flyby in 1974. Yet what is known only makes the planet more fascinating. New Earth-based observations have shed light on surface and exosphere compositions, and re-evaluations of the Mariner 10 data, using modern image processing techniques, show evidence for volcanic flow fronts, pyroclastics and other volcanic phenomena not seen before. This ground-breaking book not only chronicles what has been discovered, but looks ahead to what has yet to emerge. An accompanying CD contains all the best Mariner 10 images, including the data for each image, photomosaics and maps.

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest one to the sun. It’s so hot that people would burn up if they tried to visit! Luckily, scientists have figured out ways to study Mercury from Earth. Readers discover many of the amazing things scientists have learned about this planet. Clearly labeled diagrams and striking photographs illustrate the educational text, which enhances common science curriculum topics in way that is designed to keep readers engaged.

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest one to the sun. It’s so hot that people would burn up if they tried to visit! Luckily, scientists have figured out ways to study Mercury from Earth. Readers discover many of the amazing things scientists have learned about this planet. Clearly labeled diagrams and striking photographs illustrate the educational text, which enhances common science curriculum topics in way that is designed to keep readers engaged.

This is the first book to present the science and instruments of NASA’S MESSENGER space mission. The articles, written by the experts in each area of the MESSENGER mission, describe the mission, spacecraft, scientific objectives, and payload. The book is of interest to all potential users of the data returned by the mission, to those studying the nature of Mercury, and by all those interested in the design and implementation of planetary exploration missions.

Simple text and photographs describe the planet Mercury.

Embark on a journey to get closer to the sun than you ever have before. Readers will discover more about Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, and see how it compares to the other rocky planets. Access a downloadable 3D printer model from NASA via Page Plus QR codes.

A series of increasingly capable spacecraft were sent to explore the inner planets Venus and Mercury. The history of that planetary exploration is traced in this book along with the evolution of sophisticated spacecraft that unveiled long-sought secrets of the planets. The spacecraft were ingenious and reflected the best efforts of talented people working with the available technology of the day. Additionally, this book showcases engineering involved in those capable machines. A consecutive series of 34 planetary spacecraft, which span the time period 1961 to 2021, are described. This includes the unsuccessful missions of several early spacecraft that paved the way for a better understanding of Venus’ hostile environments. This book will describe many successful spacecraft sent to Venus by the Soviet Union and many successful spacecraft sent to Venus and to Mercury by the United States. The recent exploration of Venus by the European Space Agency’s Venus Express and the Japanese spacecraft Akatsuki can also be found in this book. The author draws on over 50 years of experience on aircraft and spacecraft systems to tell the story of these planetary spacecraft. The spacecraft experience includes being the technical lead for the landing radars on the Surveyor and Apollo lunar landers as well as providing analyses for the rendezvous radar for the Space Shuttle. Practical engineering experience is augmented by Master’s degrees in electrical engineering, physics, and business administration.

Introduction to the planets Mercury and Venus, the two planets in our solar system closest to the sun.