The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo spacecraft recently completed another flyby of its target planet Mercury, and captured significant images.
About Bepicolombo:
- This is a flyby mission as a part of a series of planned maneuvers that will eventually position the spacecraft in orbit around Mercury.
- Itis a dual-spacecraft mission consisting of the ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the JAXA-built Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) or Mio.
- It aims to study Mercury in detail, addressing its physical form, interior, structure, geology, composition, and exosphere.
- The spacecraft will also examine Mercury’s magnetosphere and magnetic fields.
- In order to enter Mercury’s orbit, the spacecraft is performing six gravity-assist flybys of Mercury.
- The Mercury Transfer Module is responsible for delivering these orbiters to their destination.
- It observed Mercury’s South Pole for the first time recently, using capture high-resolution images.
Special features of Mercury:
- Its proximity to the Sun, makes it challenging to visit, making it the least-explored planet in the inner Solar System.
- It is the smallest planet, and the thinnest atmosphere in the solar system.
- Mercury lacks a true atmosphere, instead having an exosphere, a tenuous layer of atoms released from the planet’s surface by solar and impact processes.
- A study of exosphere is crucial for planetary evolution, space weather and has implications for future missions and landers, as it can affect spacecraft operations.
- Mercury’s global magnetic field is weak compared to Earth’s, which is puzzling given the planet’s large iron core.
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Frequently Asked Question:
What is the BepiColombo mission?
BepiColombo is a space mission designed to study Mercury through flyby missions by collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
How does BepiColombo plan to enter Mercury’s orbit?
To enter Mercury’s orbit, BepiColombo will perform six gravity-assist flybys of Mercury. These flybys help to gradually reduce the spacecraft’s speed and adjust its trajectory for orbital insertion.
Why is studying Mercury challenging?
Mercury’s proximity to the Sun makes it challenging to visit due to extreme temperatures and strong solar gravity. This has contributed to it being the least-explored planet in the inner Solar System.