Spacecraft bound for Mercury begins 'tricky' arrival - Phys.org
The BepiColombo spacecraft has begun its final, high-risk approach to Mercury after an eight-year journey. The mission involves separating two probes to study the planet's environment despite the extreme gravitational and thermal challenges.
Why it matters
This mission provides critical data on the least understood planet in our solar system, helping scientists better understand planetary formation.
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Add as preferred source The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission in 2024 completed a flyby closer than planned to Mercury . After an eight-year journey, a spacecraft carrying European and Japanese probes began the monthslong, high-risk approach to Mercury on Thursday to study the sun-scorched planet.
The BepiColombo mission set off from Earth in 2018 on a winding path to study the smallest and least understood planet in our solar system, with the aim of releasing the two probes into its orbit.
On Thursday, it began its arrival phase, described by the European Space Agency (ESA) as its "most operationally challenging planetary arrival sequences ever attempted."
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