TRACKER-1ALPHA
48.8566°N / 2.3522°E
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Official BepiColombo patch
Space probes·ESA / JAXA

BepiColombo

In transitLaunched in 2018·En route to Mercury

A mission to Mercury to study the least-known planet of the inner solar system.

Main objectives
  • Study Mercury (geology, magnetosphere, exosphere) with two orbiters.
  • Test general relativity via orbital perturbations.
  • Understand the formation of the inner terrestrial planets.
Did you know?

To reach Mercury, the probe must brake against the Sun's pull for 7 years.

Timeline

Oct 20, 2018
Launch

Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana.

Oct 01, 2021
First Mercury encounter

First of 6 preparatory flybys.

Dec 01, 2026
Orbital insertion

Final insertion into Mercury orbit.

BepiColombo
Photo of BepiColombo
Mission data
StatusIn transit
PositionEn route to Mercury
Launched in2018
TargetMercury

Instruments

[02]
MPO

Mercury Planetary Orbiter (ESA) — studies the surface.

Mio

Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (JAXA) — studies the magnetic field.

Specifications

Total mass4,100 kg
Trajectory9 billion km cumulative

Discoveries

[02]
  • ObservationMajor
    Fourth flyby — 165 km altitude
    A record close flyby. Mapping of previously unseen regions of the south pole.
    Sep 04, 2024
  • ObservationNotable
    First Mercury encounter
    First of 6 preparatory flybys.
    Oct 01, 2021

Official sources

ESA↗