MESSENGER Mercury-Orbiter Spacecraft
MESSENGER was NASA's Mercury-orbiting spacecraft, launched in 2004 and operated until its mission ended in 2015. Its integrated dual-mode propulsion subsystem used a 660 N bipropellant Large Velocity Adjust thruster with hydrazine fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer, plus sixteen hydrazine thrusters for smaller trajectory adjustments and attitude control. Four 22 N thrusters supported small course corrections and steadied the spacecraft during large-engine burns; twelve 4.4 N thrusters supported smaller corrections and could back up the reaction wheels.
Follow this vehicle family
Future launches and major activity directly linked to this vehicle family.
Identity
- Aliases
- MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging
- Family Name
- MESSENGER
- Full Name
- MESSENGER Mercury-Orbiter Spacecraft
- Roles
- orbiter
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- MESSENGER was NASA's Mercury-orbiting spacecraft, launched in 2004 and operated until its mission ended in 2015. Its integrated dual-mode propulsion subsystem used a 660 N bipropellant Large Velocity Adjust thruster with hydrazine fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer, plus sixteen hydrazine thrusters for smaller trajectory adjustments and attitude control. Four 22 N thrusters supported small course corrections and steadied the spacecraft during large-engine burns; twelve 4.4 N thrusters supported smaller corrections and could back up the reaction wheels.
- First Flight Year
- 2,004
- Last Flight Year
- 2,015
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- spacecraft
- Propulsion System
- Role
- maneuvering
- Stage
- spacecraft
- Variant Notes
- One MESSENGER dual-mode propulsion subsystem with one 660 N bipropellant Large Velocity Adjust thruster, four 22 N hydrazine thrusters, and twelve 4.4 N hydrazine thrusters.
- Name
- MESSENGER dual-mode propulsion installation
- Notes
- NASA documents MESSENGER's dual-mode propulsion as one 660 N bipropellant Large Velocity Adjust thruster plus sixteen hydrazine thrusters. Count 1 represents the complete installed orbiter propulsion subsystem.
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/messenger/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 12, 2026 at 17:04:09 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 8, 2026 at 00:25:13 UTC