MESSENGER

KinetX provided navigation services for NASA’s MESSENGER mission to Mercury, the first spacecraft to orbit the planet.  Launched on 3 August 2004,  MESSENGER traversed the most complex interplanetary trajectory ever flown, arriving at Mercury after 6.6 years. 

KinetX successfully navigated the spacecraft in orbit from 17 March 2011 through 30 April  2015, extending the science data collection duration by developing an innovative “solar sailing” technique using the spacecraft's solar arrays.

Press Release:

KinetX Aerospace Successfully Navigates NASA's MESSENGER Spacecraft Through Final Mission Phase