Messenger sent a farewell photo before falling to Mercury

NASA received the last photo from the Interplanetary automatic station Messenger, which fell on Mercury on April 30.

Messenger crashed at 22:26 April 30. At a speed of 14 thousand kilometers per hour, the device weighing half a ton crashed into Mercury. As a result, a crater with a diameter of 16 meters was formed on the surface of the planet. The probe fell on the side of the planet, which at that moment was not visible from the ground.

Messenger spent more than three years in the orbit of Mercury, transmitting almost 300 thousand images during this time. Thanks to the analysis of the pictures, scientists managed to find out that on the planet closest to the Sun there is water, as well as compile a detailed body map. In total, in space, Messenger spent more than 10 years, six and a half of which spent to reach the target.

See also: Messenger's memory