Third Mercury mission: the "BepiColombo" probe races past the planet and delivers new images

Created: 06/24/2022, 14:41

By: Antonio Jose Riether

The BepiColombo spacecraft flew past its destination Mercury for the second time.

© ESA/ATG medialab/dpa

The Mercury probe "BepiColombo" flew past Mercury at an altitude of 200 kilometers and could soon provide answers to unanswered questions about the little-explored planet.

Darmstadt - The four-part space probe "BepiColombo" raced last Thursday

directly past their destination Merkur for the second time.

On October 20, 2018, the probe, which is controlled from the control center in Darmstadt, started its seven-year mission to the planet closest to the sun, delivering new images for the second time after October 2021.

However, the main focus of the cooperation project between the European Space Agency ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA is on new findings.

"BepiColombo" explores Mercury: Probe could answer open questions from the last mission

When passing the celestial body, everything went well, said Simon Plum, head of the Esa mission operation of the German Press Agency.

"BepiColombo" is only the third mission to Mercury after Mariner 10 in 1974 and 1975 and the Messenger orbiter from 2011 to 2015.

The planet is still relatively unexplored because it is closest to the sun and thus the most difficult to observe.

The Messenger orbiter's final mission raised a few questions.

Mercury showed geological peculiarities that have not been found on other planets so far, for example the "hollows", i.e. depressions that are probably caused by outgassing on the surface.

These could be seen in the new photos.

The chemical composition of Mercury's surface was also not as expected, and the "BepiColombo" should also bring new insights here.

Mercury probe "BepiColombo": Mission worth two billion euros will culminate in 2025

Similar to other planets, Mercury's exterior seems to show signs of tectonic and volcanic activity.

The mission, which costs a total of two billion euros, could also provide information about the geological past of the planet.

Furthermore, it should contribute to a better understanding of the origins of the solar system.

Look into the depths of the universe - This is how "Hubble" sees the universe

View photo gallery

The probe still has to fly past Mercury six times and thus be slowed down before it finally reaches orbit in 2025.

The great gravitational pull of the sun is the reason for this maneuver, the next flyby will not take place for a year.

In three years, the two satellites on board are scheduled to examine the surface and the magnetic field of the celestial body.

The high-resolution scientific cameras are only used in Mercury's orbit.

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(ajr)