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NASA's Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) mission was launched atop its United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II 7925H-9.5 on August 3, 2004 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 17B located in Florida. The mission was sent aloft to study Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. MESSENGER flew by Earth once, Venus twice, and Mercury itself three times. This allowed the spacecraft to decelerate in relation to the planet closest to our Sun - while using the minimal amount of fuel possible, MESSENGER became only the second spacecraft to reach Mercury (the first being NASA's Mariner 10 - which flew past the world in 1975). MESSENGER completed its primary, as well as two mission extensions on April 30, 2015 - when it was directed to impact the rocky world. Photos courtesy: Carleton Bailie
