WEBVTT

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Intro music.

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In just seven short years, planet Mercury will have a visitor from Earth:

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an advanced spacecraft called MESSENGER.

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The name stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, Geochemistry and Ranging,

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reflective of the mission's wide range of science goals.

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MESSENGER will use an array of seven scientific instruments to explore Mercury's surface, crust, atmosphere and magnetic field.

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Three spectrometers will analyze the various elements in the rocks and minerals around the planet.

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A fourth spectrometer will examine Mercury's magnetosphere,

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the area around the planet that is controlled by a magnetic field.

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Another three instruments will map the shapes of landforms and surface features, also known as topography.

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The first mission to Mercury since 1975, MESSENGER's study of the mysterious planet will answer decades of questions.

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Scientists predict its discoveries might even tell us a thing or two about Earth's past.

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