Messenger is expected to impact on the surface of Mercury around April 30 . The MESSENGER spacecraft launched in September 2009 and arrived at Mercury last year. As it gets lower it is sending back images of the surface in greater detail . Engineers have attempted to extend the mission by using up its last fuel .
Messenger is expected to impact on the surface of Mercury around April 30 . Spacecraft has been orbiting Mercury since 2011 , taking 250,000 pictures . As it gets lower it is sending back images of the surface in greater detail . Engineers have attempted to extend the mission by using up its last fuel .