Today (January 14, 2008), at 2:04 p.m. EST MESSENGER skimmed 200 kilometers (124 miles) above the surface of Mercury in the first of three flybys of the planet. Initial indications from the radio signals indicate the spacecraft is still operating nominally. The first science data return from the flyby was received today, just minutes before the closest approach point with the planet, as planned. 

MESSENGER (MErcury, Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) is a NASA-sponsored scientific investigation of the planet Mercurey and the first space mission designed to orbit the planet closest to the Sun. The MESSENGER spacecraft launched on August 3, 2004 and will start a yearlong study of its target planet in March 2011. On board of the Messenger is the FIPS instrument (Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer, part of the Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometeter (EPPS)) that uses PHOTONIS Microchannel Plates to analyze the atmosphere of the planet Mercury. The FIPS instrument is along to take first ever ion measurements of the closest planet in our solar system. The FIPS was built in Michigan by members of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Department and the Space Physics Research Lab. For more information you can visit their website: http://solar-heliospheric.engin.umich.edu or the official MESSENGER website http://messenger.jhuapl.edu