description BepiColombo Overview
BepiColombo is a joint European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission to study Mercury. Launched on 20 October 2018, it carries the ESA Mercury Planetary Orbiter, JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, also called Mio, and a transfer module that transports them through the cruise phase. The mission is designed to investigate Mercury’s surface, interior, magnetic field, magnetosphere, and surrounding environment, with routine science operations planned after arrival in 2026.
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What is BepiColombo going to study?
BepiColombo is designed to study Mercury, including the planet's surface, interior, magnetosphere, and thin exosphere. It is a joint mission run by the European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
When was BepiColombo launched?
BepiColombo launched on 20 October 2018. Because Mercury is deep in the Sun's gravity well, the spacecraft uses a long series of planetary flybys and electric propulsion to reach orbit.
What spacecraft are carried by BepiColombo?
The mission carries ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, which is also called Mio. A transfer module transports the orbiters through the cruise phase.
Why does BepiColombo have two orbiters?
The two orbiters are built for different parts of Mercury's environment. ESA's orbiter focuses mainly on the planet and surface, while JAXA's Mio concentrates on the magnetic field and magnetosphere.
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