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Mariner 10

Mariner 10

The first mission to employ gravity assist, or using the gravity of a planet to alter a spacecraft's speed and trajectory to fly by its target planet, the Mariner 10 mission flew by both Venus and Mercury, snapping photos and collecting data.

Mission Statistics

Launch Date

Nov. 3, 1973

Type

Flyby Spacecraft

Target

Mercury, Venus

Status

Past

About the mission

The first mission to employ gravity assist, or using the gravity of a planet to alter a spacecraft's speed and trajectory to fly by its target planet, the Mariner 10 mission flew by both Venus and Mercury, snapping photos and collecting data.

Also the first spacecraft to visit Mercury, a feat that wouldn't happen again for more than 30 years, Mariner 10 data revealed a surprising magnetic field and a metallic core comprising about 80 percent of Mercury's mass.

Instruments

  • Imaging system
  • Electrostatic analyzer
  • Electron spectrometer
  • Triaxial fluxgate magnetometer
  • Extreme ultraviolet spectrometer
  • Infrared radiometer

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› Fact Sheet
› Mariner 10 Information on National Space Science Data Center

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