Fact Sheet
First Date
A spacecraft called Messenger will make its first close approach to Mercury, as shown in this artist's concept, on January 14. It will be the first close-range study of the planet in more than 30 years. Messenger will photograph parts of Mercury that were missed by the only other mission to the planet. Messenger will swing by Mercury one more time before settling into orbit around the planet in 2011. [NASA/JHU/APL]
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