BepiColombo
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 |
| Website | https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo |
| Mission duration | Cruise: 7 years (planned) 8 years (actual) Science phase: 1 year (planned) 7 years, 4 months and 25 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Launch mass | 4,100 kg (9,000 lb) |
| BOL mass | MPO: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb) Mio: 255 kg (562 lb) |
| Dry mass | 2,700 kg (6,000 lb) |
| 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) |
| Power | MPO: 150 watts Mio: 90 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 October 2018, 01:45 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA (VA245) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-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) |
| Flyby of Mercury (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 4 September 2024, 21:48 UTC |
| Distance | 165 km (103 mi) |
| Flyby of Mercury (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 1 December 2024, 14:23 UTC |
| Distance | 37,626 km (23,380 mi) |
| Flyby of Mercury (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | 8 January 2025, 05:59 UTC |
| Distance | 295 km (183 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. The mission comprises two satellites launched together: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, MMO). 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 rocket on 20 October 2018, with Mercury orbit insertion planned for November 2026, after a flyby of Earth, two flybys of Venus, and six flybys of Mercury. The total cost of the mission was estimated in 2017 as US$2 billion.