👤 whose
Whose spacecraft first discovered that Mercury has a global magnetic field?
Quick Answer
That was NASA's Mariner 10 in 1974. It was the first spacecraft to fly by Mercury and detected that the planet has a magnetic field.
The Full Story
Mariner 10 flew by Mercury three times in 1974 and 1975 after using a Venus gravity assist. During those encounters it found that Mercury has a weak global magnetic field, which was unexpected at the time. The discovery suggested that Mercury has a molten, electrically active interior. Mariner 10 also provided the first close images of the planet's cratered surface.
Key Facts
1.Mariner 10 flew by Mercury in 1974-75
2.It detected Mercury's global magnetic field
3.The mission used a Venus gravity assist
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Tiny Mercury surprised scientists by having a planet-wide magnetic field."
Was this answer helpful?
Tap a reaction — it helps us pick what to cover next.