i need this specified in earth time.
2007-11-27 12:58:36 · 3 answers · asked by Ghost_of_a_good_thing 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
About 3 months, depending on launch windows.
2007-11-27 13:01:40 · answer #1 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Messenger is a probe on its way to Mercury. Its mission takes 2418 days (launched in 2004, enters Mercury orbit in 2011) to get there. It's about halfway right now.
The problem with going to Mercury is that as you fall towards the Sun, you speed up, which tends to slingshot you back away from the Sun again. It would take a LOT of rocket fuel to cancel out the speed a spacecraft starts out with when leaving the Earth.
Of course, more fuel = faster trip but much bigger cost. That's why NASA is going the long way to Mercury, visiting Earth again, then Venus twice, then flying by Mercury 3 times before finally entering orbit at the 4th Mercury approach.
2007-11-27 13:10:25 · answer #2 · answered by ZeroByte 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is like asking how long it would take to get to time square in New York City from Los Agleles. How fast would you go? What route would you take? It depends. There is no one true and meaningful answer. But ZeroByte's answer is good.
2007-11-27 14:24:53 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋