BepiColombo
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| BepiColombo | |
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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Public domain · source | |
| Name | BepiColombo |
| Mission type | Mercury orbiter |
| Operator | European Space Agency / Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency |
| Website | https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo |
| Mission duration | Planned: 1 year (science mission), Elapsed: 20 October 2018 |
| Spacecraft | BepiColombo |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space (MPO) / JAXA (MMO) |
| Launch mass | 4,100 kg (9,000 lb) |
| Dry mass | 2,700 kg (6,000 lb) |
| Power | MPO: 1500 W, MMO: 350 W |
| Launch date | 20 October 2018, 01:45 UTC |
| Launch rocket | Ariane 5 ECA |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre, Kourou |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbit reference | Mercury |
| Orbit regime | Elliptical polar orbit |
| Apsis | herm |
| Programme | ESA's Cosmic Vision programme |
| Previous mission | Solar Orbiter |
| Next mission | JUICE |
BepiColombo is a major joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission to the planet Mercury. As the first European mission to the innermost planet, it consists of two separate orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO, also called Mio). The mission is named after the Italian mathematician and engineer Giuseppe Colombo, whose work was pivotal in understanding Mercury's rotation and enabling the Mariner 10 mission. Its primary goal is to conduct a comprehensive study of Mercury's composition, geophysics, atmosphere, magnetosphere, and geological history.
Mission overview
The mission aims to address fundamental questions about the formation and evolution of the Solar System's innermost planet, building upon data from earlier missions like NASA's MESSENGER. By placing two spacecraft with complementary instrument suites into different orbits, BepiColombo will perform simultaneous measurements of Mercury's surface, interior, and surrounding environment. The mission is a cornerstone of the ESA's Cosmic Vision programme and represents a significant technological challenge due to the extreme thermal environment and the high-energy demands of reaching an orbit around Mercury.
Spacecraft design
The spacecraft stack comprises three main modules: the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM), the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). The Airbus Defence and Space-built MTM provides solar-electric propulsion for the cruise phase, while the JAXA-built MMO is dedicated to studying the planet's magnetic field and magnetosphere. The MPO, built by ESA, carries a suite of instruments to analyze the surface and internal composition. The entire stack is protected by a specially designed sunshield and utilizes Multi-Layer Insulation to withstand temperatures exceeding 350°C.
Scientific objectives and instruments
Key scientific objectives include mapping Mercury's surface at high resolution, determining the nature of its magnetic field, investigating the composition of its polar deposits, and testing Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. The MPO carries instruments such as the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA), the Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (MERTIS), and the Mercury Gamma-ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS). The MMO is equipped with the Mercury Plasma Particle Experiment (MPPE) and the Magnetic Field Investigation (MGF) to study solar wind interactions.
Launch and flight trajectory
BepiColombo was launched on 20 October 2018 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. Its complex trajectory, designed to lose orbital energy, includes one Earth flyby, two Venus flybys, and six Mercury flybys before orbital insertion. These gravity assist maneuvers, managed by ESA's European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, are critical for slowing the spacecraft enough to be captured by Mercury's weak gravity without excessive fuel consumption.
Mission timeline and current status
Following its launch, the spacecraft successfully completed its flyby of Earth in April 2020 and its two flybys of Venus in 2020 and 2021. The first Mercury flyby occurred in October 2021, providing early science data. As of 2024, BepiColombo continues its cruise phase, with subsequent Mercury flybys scheduled to adjust its trajectory. The planned orbit insertion around Mercury is set for December 2025, after which the two orbiters will separate and begin their nominal one-year science mission.
Category:European Space Agency probes Category:JAXA spacecraft Category:Missions to Mercury Category:Spacecraft launched in 2018