NASA’s Messenger probe is set to make a death plunge into Mercury, as it runs out of fuel after four years collecting data. The spacecraft will smash into the side of the planet not facing the earth at more than 8,750mph on or around 30 April. Its mission was initially only supposed to last a year, but researchers extended its life for as long as possible after it returned an array of interesting data and discoveries.Messenger was launched in 2004 and travelled for more than six years before it finally began orbiting Mercury in March 2011.
NASA Spaceship Prepares To Smash Into Mercury
