ESA's BepiColombo Probe Completes 1st Flyby

The ESA's exploration of Mercury announced another successful waypoint on October 1 as the BepiColombo mission returned its first photographs of the planet’s surface.

The probe represents a joint collaboration between the ESA and its Japanese counterpart, the Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Launched in 2018, it is currently en-route to the smallest, least explored terrestrial planet in the solar system to carry out a full analysis of its composition, magnetosphere, and inner workings. 

Though the closest approach passed within 199km (107 NM) from the planet's surface, it did so over the night side, leaving the visible daytime pictures from a further 1000 km (540 NM). "The flyby was flawless from the spacecraft point of view, and it's incredible to finally see our target planet." said Elsa Montagnon, Spacecraft Operations manager for the mission.

The greyscale, 1024 x 1024 pixel cameras, somewhat lacking by terrestrial standards, sent back images of Mercury's surface, with visible portions of the orbiter framing the shot. Large impact craters are visible dotting the surface, with distinct locales easily designated. 

This flyby was a preliminary jaunt for the two scientific orbiters, as they continue to move into position for study. It’s primary mission will begin in early 2026, making a series of nine flybys in total, one at earth, two at Venus, and six at Mercury. The ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter will study all aspects of the planet from its core to surface processes, magnetic field, exosphere, and hopefully hints as to what created its current form. Pocked with scores of impact craters, volcanic scars, and barren plains of rock, scientists hope to piece together what powers its geological activity beneath the surface.

The next flyby will take place in June of 2022. 

FMI: www.esa.int