At Astrotech Space Operations facilities near KSC the Mercury Surface Space Environment Geochemistry and Ranging spacecraft is carried.

At Astrotech Space Operations facilities near KSC, the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft is carried across the floor by an overhead crane. MESSENGER is being moved to a turnover fixture that will rotate it for prelaunch testing. Launch is scheduled for May 11 from Pad 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft will fly past Venus three times and Mercury twice before starting a year-long orbital study of Mercury in July 2009.