NASA’s Messenger spacecraft has taken an incredible close-up picture of Mercury just days before it smashes into the planet’s surface.
more…
I wouldn’t mind a poster of that
“as the spacecraft runs out of propellant and the force of solar gravity causes it to impact the surface of Mercury, estimated to occur between 3:25 and 3:30 p.m. EDT on April 30, 2015.”
What’s the mathematics behind the loss of altitude caused by the sun’s gravity?
Messenger Image Highlights Collection http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/image_highlights.html
Orbit for the days leading up to impact.
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/final.html
OCM = Orbital Correction Manoeuvre
