'A new mission starting today': 8 years after launch, BepiColombo begins Mercury arrival
The BepiColombo spacecraft has officially entered its arrival phase at Mercury after an eight-year journey through the solar system. The mission, a collaboration between ESA and JAXA, will now begin the complex process of entering the planet's orbit.
Why it matters
This mission represents a major milestone in planetary science, aiming to study one of the least-explored planets in our solar system.
Missions 'A new mission starting today': 8 years after launch, BepiColombo begins Mercury arrival News By Josh Dinner Published 3 September 2026 "Arriving to Mercury is not as simple as other missions."
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Click for next article This image was taken by the BepiColombo mission on Jan. 8, 2025 as the spacecraft sped by Mercury for its sixth and final gravity assist at the planet. (Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter After nearly eight years traveling through the inner solar system, the trailblazing BepiColombo spacecraft has finally begun its arrival at Mercury.
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