The APL website is somewhat unclear at the precise point of aphelion, but it appears that Messenger has reached it. Sometime in the last week of May, it should cross Earth orbit for the last time. It will cross Venus orbit in October close enough to the planet to slow it down the orbiter a bit.
Edit: The APL website added a new orbit today, so I assume that, on 2 May 2006, it began falling back to the Sun.
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Keeper of the Jabberwock
Last edited by Lord Jubjub; 03-May-2006 at 01:36 AM..
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