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Messenger En Route To Mercury

Posted by timothy on from the luggage-is-going-to-phoenix dept.

Soft writes "NASA's Messenger space probe has lifted off on its second try on a Delta 2-Heavy rocket. As mentioned earlier on Slashdot, it is poised to orbit Mercury in 2011 after three flybys, as well as two flybys of Venus and one of Earth for course corrections. It will be the first probe to visit the innermost planet since Mariner 10 in 1974 and 1975. Stories on the BBC and SpaceflightNow."

8 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. 2011? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not exactly Instant Messenger, is it?

    1. Re:2011? by Lord+Omlette · · Score: 2, Funny

      It'll have to put up an away message for quite some time.

      --
      [o]_O
  2. Men are from Mars, Women are from.... by Andy+Mitchell · · Score: 1, Funny

    Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Small furry creatures are from Alpha Centauri.

    So what the heck is there on Mercury? :-)

  3. Messenger's telemetry log... by vudufixit · · Score: 4, Funny

    8-2-3004 2:15:56.537 EST: Departure Scan, Cape Canaveral 9-5-2005 Scan Venus gravitational assist 4-22-2008 Scan First flyby 12-14-2009 Scan Second flyby 6-12-2010 Scan Third flyby 2-01-2011 Scan Orbital Insertion ADDRESSEE NOT HOME, SIGNATURE WAIVED

  4. Mercury is toxic by hugesmile · · Score: 1, Funny
    This is a very bad idea - going to Mercury and back to Earth. Haven't they read that Mercury is toxic

    Next they'll try to return from Saturn with car parts.

  5. Service Pack One by syntap · · Score: 2, Funny

    Too bad this isn't Microsoft Messenger... they could apply service packs to Mercury and give it an atmosphere.

  6. Re:Mercury, messenger of the Gods? by fuzzybunny · · Score: 2, Funny

    GALILEO--Get Awfully Lucky If it Leaves Low Earth Orbit
    VOYAGER--Vogons Observing Your Area; Get 'Em Running! (Ah, its true purpose is revealed)
    MARINER--Meet Alien Robots In Near Earth Rendez-vous

    --
    Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
  7. Re:Will this joke ever grow old? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    BSD is dying?