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NASA selected the MESSENGER mission
NASA selects the MESSENGER as the seventh Discovery Program mission -
Final design
The final design and constuction of the MESSENGER begins -
MESSENGER moves
The MESSENGER moves to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center for final space-environment testing -
MESSENGER launch
NASA launch the MESSENGER mission -
Earth flyby
The MESSENGER went past the Earth. Flybys enable spacecrafts to use the gravity from the planet to accelerate/decelerate or assist in changing path and also reduce fuel usage. -
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Venus flyby
The MESSENGER flew past Venus twice. Flybys enable spacecrafts to use the gravity from the planet to accelerate/decelerate or assist in changing path and also reduce fuel usage. -
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Mercury flyby
NASA went past Mercury three times. Flybys enable spacecrafts to use the gravity from the planet to accelerate/decelerate or assist in changing path and also reduce fuel usage. -
Orbit of Mercury
Yearlong science orbit of Mercury begins -
Completed orbit
The MESSENGER successfully completed its year-long first extended mission in orbit about Mercury. NASA finally imaged 100% of the planet Mercury. Done 2000 orbits of Mercury