BepiColombo mission approaches Mercury after eight-year journey

The BepiColombo mission, a joint venture between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is approaching its final stages of travel toward Mercury. Launched in October 2018 via an Ariane 5 rocket, the spacecraft has traveled approximately 10 billion kilometers through the inner solar system.

On September 3, 2026, the mission reached a critical milestone as the Mercury Transfer Module began the process of separating from the two scientific orbiters. This complex maneuver is necessary to allow the orbiters to eventually enter Mercury's orbit. The mission utilized a combination of electric propulsion and nine gravitational assists from Earth, Venus, and Mercury to manage the high energy required for orbital insertion.

If the mission proceeds as planned, the two separate probes are expected to begin detailed scientific observations of Mercury in April 2027. The mission aims to study the planet's surface, internal structure, and environment, providing new data on one of the solar system's least-explored planets.