BepiColombo

space probe mission

BepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet Mercury. It launched on October 20, 2018 and it is planned to arrive at Mercury On December 5, 2025.

BepiColombo
Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter
Artist's depiction of the BepiColombo mission, with the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (left) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (right)
Mission typePlanetary science
OperatorESA · JAXA
COSPAR ID2018-080A
SATCAT no.43653Edit this on Wikidata
Websitesci.esa.int/bepicolombo/
Mission durationCruise: 7 years (planned) Elapsed: 5 years, 5 months and 23 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerEADS Astrium · ISAS
Launch mass4,100 kg (9,040 lb)[1]
BOL massMPO: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb)[1]
MMO: 255 kg (560 lb)[1]
Dry mass2,700 kg (5,950 lb)[1]
DimensionsMPO: 2.4 × 2.2 × 1.7 m[1]
     (7.9 × 7.2 × 5.6 ft)
MMO: 1.8 × 1.1 m[1]
     (5.9 × 3.6 ft)
PowerMPO: 150 W
MMO: 90 W
Start of mission
Launch dateOctober 20, 2018 (2018-10-20)
RocketAriane 5 ECA
Launch siteGuiana Space Centre[2]
ContractorArianespace
Mercury orbiter
Spacecraft componentMercury Planetary Orbiter
Orbital insertionPlanned: 5 December 2025
Orbit parameters
Perihermion480 km (300 mi)
Apohermion1,500 km (930 mi)
Inclination90°
Mercury orbiter
Spacecraft componentMercury Magnetospheric Orbiter
Orbital insertionPlanned: 5 December 2025
Orbit parameters
Perihermion590 km (370 mi)
Apohermion11,640 km (7,230 mi)
Inclination90°
 

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "BepiColombo Factsheet". European Space Agency. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  2. "MMO/BepiColombo". JAXA. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2014.