BepiColombo spacecraft reaches Mercury after eight-year mission

The BepiColombo spacecraft, a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has reached the vicinity of Mercury after an eight-year journey. On September 3, the spacecraft successfully separated from its Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) to prepare for orbital insertion.

To reach the innermost planet, the mission utilized nine gravity assists involving Earth, Venus, and Mercury to slow down against the Sun’s intense gravity. BepiColombo consists of two orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter, built by ESA, and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, built by JAXA.

The mission aims to study Mercury’s core, surface, magnetic field, and exosphere to better understand planetary formation. The spacecraft is expected to settle into its final orbit around the planet in November.