NASA Spacecraft Set to Shine Spotlight on Mercury 71
coondoggie writes to tell us Network World is reporting that NASA will this month see the realization of a mission launched in 2004, sent to explore the planet Mercury. "MESSENGER, launched in 2004, is the first NASA mission sent to orbit Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. But on Jan. 14 it will pass close by the planet and use Mercury's gravity for a critical assist needed to keep the spacecraft on track for its ultimate orbit around the planet three years from now. Still, the spacecraft is also expected to throw back some never-before -seen images, NASA said. The flyby also will gather essential data for planning the overall mission. After flybys of Earth, Venus, and Mercury, it will start a year-long orbital study of Mercury in March 2011, NASA said. "
Of course they've never been seen. (Score:5, Funny)
Am I the only Slashdotter who looked at this and thought, "Of course they've never been seen, they haven't even been taken yet." Yes, yes, I know what they meant, but couldn't they have said what they meant instead of something dramatic but wrong?
OK, folks, see if you can manage to mod me down with a -1 Pedant, now.
Bright light! Bright light! (Score:5, Funny)
I can't imagine they'd need any more light on Mercury, what with the sun just 36 million miles off and all.
Nice alliteration, btw.
Oblig Hedberg (Score:5, Funny)
ALL PICTURES OF YOU ARE OF YOU WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER.
Heres a picture of me when i'm older....
You son of a bitch, where did you get that camera?
Ah, how i wish Mitch [wikipedia.org] was still rambling.
Re:not JPL!! NSFW gay porn video link! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why so long . . . (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why so long . . . (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why so long . . . (Score:4, Funny)
And as a NASA employee, can you give us an insider's take on the mission?