On This Day

MESSENGER spacecraft performs a second flyby of Venus

MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field.

MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. The name is a backronym for Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, and a reference to the messenger god Mercury from Roman mythology.

MESSENGER was launched aboard a Delta II rocket in August 2004. Its path involved a complex series of flybys – the spacecraft flew by Earth once, Venus twice, and Mercury itself three times, allowing it to decelerate relative to Mercury using minimal fuel.

Historical Significance

MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field.

Events Before

  1. Sydney, Australia, swelters through its hottest New Year's Day on record, with the temperature peaking at 45.8 degrees C

    Sydney, Australia, swelters through its hottest New Year's Day on record, with the temperature peaking at 45.8 degrees Celsius, sparking bushfires and power outages

  2. American actor Eddie Murphy (44) divorces Nicole Mitchell after 13 years of marriage

    Edward Regan Murphy is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a stand-up comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest…

  3. Actor-writer Charlie Shanian (39) divorces former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Tori Spelling (32) only 15 months after t

    Actor-writer Charlie Shanian (39) divorces former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Tori Spelling (32) only 15 months after their lavish $1-million wedding

  4. Nepalese security forces open fire on pro-democracy protesters demonstrating against King Gyanendra, injuring hundreds.

    Nepalese security forces open fire on pro-democracy protesters demonstrating against King Gyanendra, injuring hundreds. The protesters secure the restoration of parliament and a federal state

  5. "Dallas" actress Victoria Principal (56) divorces plastic surgeon Harry Glassman (63) due to irreconcilable differences

    "Dallas" actress Victoria Principal (56) divorces plastic surgeon Harry Glassman (63) due to irreconcilable differences after nearly 21 years of marriage

Events After

  1. A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples comes into effect

    A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples comes into effect

  2. Australian pop diva Natalie Imbruglia (32) and "Silverchair" frontman Daniel Johns (28) announce their divorce stating "

    Australian pop diva Natalie Imbruglia (32) and "Silverchair" frontman Daniel Johns (28) announce their divorce stating "we have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together"

  3. "Breaking Bad," created by Vince Gilligan and starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, premieres on AMC

    Breaking Bad is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC.

  4. Fears of a possible US recession cause a Black Monday for global stock markets, European stocks suffer their worst decli

    Fears of a possible US recession cause a Black Monday for global stock markets, European stocks suffer their worst decline since 9/11, and Asian stocks drop as much as 15%

  5. Toshiba announces its formal recall of its HD DVD video format, ending the format war with Sony's Blu-ray Disc

    Toshiba Corporation (株式会社東芝, Kabushikigaisha Tōshiba; English: ) is a Japanese multinational electronics company headquartered in Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.

More from the 2000s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 5, 2007?
MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. The name is a backronym for Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, and a reference to the messenger god Mercury from Roman mythology. MESSENGER was launched aboard a Delta II rocket in August 2004.
Why is MESSENGER spacecraft performs a second flyby of Venus significant?
MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field.

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