and why doesn't the spacecraft just go straight to Mercury? (from the MESSENGER FAQ)
During a flyby a spacecraft flies near the planet but does not land on it or enter an orbit around it. Flybys are done because:
The spacecraft doesn’t have enough fuel to go into orbit or make a safe landing (like Mariner 10’s flybys of Mercury); or
The spacecraft will continue to other destinations (such as the Voyager flybys of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune); or
The spacecraft needs a “gravity assist” from the planet, changing its trajectory without using much fuel (such as the New Horizons flyby of Jupiter in February 2007).
Virtual Flyby
Click here to see what the MESSENGER spacecraft will do during its Flyby
Youtube Video showing path of MESSENGER spacecraft since launch NOTE! You cannot view the video if Youtube is blocked by your district. It will show up as just empty space.
My wife made a piece of Art out of the D&C Article using Wordle
Mission Control Agenda
This is my planned agenda. The dates and times are subject to change. I will try to keep this as up-to-date as possible. If you would like to have me chat live either by Twitter or through the video streaming below, please contact me through my Twitter account @ Porchdragon or via email at Eugene_gordon@fairport.monroe.edu. I will make every effort to get back to you in real time as soon as possible.
More to Come!
Sorry all but due to security concerns I cannot do video streaming from Mission Ops. Please send me times that you wish to do video and I will do my best to do it from somewhere else.
Day
Time
Location
Twitter
Video
Sunday
9AM
Arrive Baltimore
Monday
3AM
Arrive APL
yes
no
4:30-4:50 AM
MESSENGER swings through Mercury's shadow
yes
no
6 AM
I may or may not be sleeping here. Send me a tweet and I may get online live for you.
if awake
If you ask nicely
12-3:15PM
Lunch(or would that be breakfast?) and meeting with MESSENGER Educational and Public Outreach Team
yes
no
Iwill be available to chat at this point from my hotel
yes
yes
Tuesday
1:14 AM
MESSENGER Turns back toward Earth
yes
no
1:49 AM
MESSENGER sends recorded data back to Earth
yes
no
schooltime
Let me know if you want to chat or do video today. I will make arrangements if possible. NEW!!! They are trying to get permission for me to broadcast live from mission SOC, Check back often!!
Wednesday
4PM
Public Talk by Mark Robinson at Kossiakoff Center
yes
???
5P
Reception at Kossiakoff Center
maybe
Twitter
Log into Twitter! and follow me. Look up and follow my twitter name: Porchdragon
The MESSENGER spacecraft has a Twitter account atMESSENGER2011
Did you know that you can set up your cellphone to send and recieve tweets (text messages from Twitter) Just click HERE to find out how.
I will be updating my agenda with more times for video streaming once I get to mission control.
Note: As of October 2nd I just found out that I will not be able to do any video or take any photos from the actual Mission Operations Center or the Science Operations Center. What that means to my recording of the event, i am not sure of yet. This is a result of the world we live in and security is at a maximum. I promise to get as much as I can to you whenever I can.
NOTE PLEASE READ THIS
The Server here is not letting the texting below to work. You MUST use twitter to text me questions. I cannot read the text below so please look me up on Twitter to send me questions. My name is porchdragon.
Flickr
These Pics include some pics from my summer MESSENGER trip.
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