 Artist's depiction of the BepiColombo mission, with the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (left) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (right) | |
| Mission type | Planetary science |
|---|---|
| Operator | |
| COSPAR ID | 2018-080A |
| SATCAT no. | 43653 |
| Mission duration | Cruise: 7 years (planned) Science phase: 1 year (planned) 5 years, 10 months and 19 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Launch mass | 4,100 kg (9,000 lb) [1] |
| BOL mass | MPO: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb) Mio: 255 kg (562 lb) [1] |
| Dry mass | 2,700 kg (6,000 lb) [1] |
| Dimensions | MPO: 2.4 m × 2.2 m × 1.7 m (7 ft 10 in × 7 ft 3 in × 5 ft 7 in) Mio: 1.8 m × 1.1 m (5 ft 11 in × 3 ft 7 in) [1] |
| Power | MPO: 150 watts Mio: 90 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 October 2018, 01:45 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA (VA245)[2] |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3[3] |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Flyby of Earth (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 10 April 2020, 04:25 UTC |
| Distance | 12,677 km (7,877 mi) |
| Flyby of Venus (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 15 October 2020, 03:58 UTC |
| Distance | 10,720 km (6,660 mi) |
| Flyby of Venus (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 10 August 2021, 13:51 UTC |
| Distance | 552 km (343 mi) |
| Flyby of Mercury (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 1 October 2021, 23:34:41 UTC |
| Distance | 199 km (124 mi) |
| Flyby of Mercury (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 23 June 2022, 09:44 UTC |
| Distance | 200 km (124.3 mi) |
| Flyby of Mercury (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 19 June 2023, 19:34 UTC |
| Distance | 236 km (147 mi) |
| Mercury orbiter | |
| Spacecraft component | Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) |
| Orbital insertion | November 2026 (planned) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Perihermion altitude | 480 km (300 mi) |
| Apohermion altitude | 1,500 km (930 mi) |
| Inclination | 90,0° |
| Mercury orbiter | |
| Spacecraft component | Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) |
| Orbital insertion | November 2026 (planned) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Perihermion altitude | 590 km (370 mi) |
| Apohermion altitude | 11,640 km (7,230 mi) |
| Inclination | 90.0° |
 BepiColombo insignia | |
BepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet Mercury.[4] The mission comprises two satellites launched together: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, MMO).[5] The mission will perform a comprehensive study of Mercury, including characterization of its magnetic field, magnetosphere, and both interior and surface structure. It was launched on an Ariane 5[2] rocket on 20 October 2018 at 01:45 UTC, with an arrival at Mercury planned for on November 2026, after a flyby of Earth, two flybys of Venus, and six flybys of Mercury.[1][6] The mission was approved in November 2009, after years in proposal and planning as part of the European Space Agency's Horizon 2000+ programme;[7] it is the last mission of the programme to be launched.[8]
On 15 May 2024, ESA reported that a "glitch" prevented the spacecraft's thrusters from operating at full power during a scheduled manoeuvre on 26 April.[9] On 2 September, ESA reported that to compensate for the reduced available thrust, a revised trajectory had been developed that would add 11 months to the cruise, delaying the expected arrival date from 5 December 2025 to November 2026.[10]
- ^ a b c d e "BepiColombo Factsheet". ESA. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ a b "BepiColombo's first image from space". ESA. 10 October 2018.
- ^ "MIO/BepiColombo". JAXA. 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ Amos, Jonathan (18 January 2008). "European probe aims for Mercury". BBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
- ^ "MIO – Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter's New Name" (Press release). JAXA. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "BepiColombo Launch Rescheduled for October 2018". ESA. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "BepiColombo Overview". ESA. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
scaling backwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Glitch on BepiColombo: work ongoing to restore spacecraft to full thrust". ESA. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Fourth Mercury flyby begins BepiColombo's new trajectory". ESA. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.