MESSENGER Spacecraft at Mercury (IMAGE) University of Colorado at Boulder Caption An $8.7 million CU-Boulder instrument en route to Mercury should help scientist better understand the hot, rocky inner planet and the early evolution of the solar system. Credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.