BepiColombo Spacecraft Nears Mercury After Eight Years in Space
European-Japanese mission deploys two science orbiters in critical maneuver, entering final phase before reaching innermost planet
The BepiColombo spacecraft is approaching Mercury after spending eight years traveling through the solar system, according to Scientific American.
In a critical maneuver conducted on Thursday, the mission successfully deployed its two science orbiters, according to the report. The deployment marks the beginning of the final phases of the spacecraft's arrival at Mercury.
BepiColombo is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, according to the report. The mission was designed to study Mercury, the smallest and least explored planet in the solar system.
The spacecraft's long journey has involved multiple gravity-assist flybys to gradually adjust its trajectory for entry into Mercury's orbit, according to the report. The successful separation of the two orbiters represents a significant milestone in the mission's progress toward its scientific objectives.
Sources
- The spacecraft BepiColombo is finally nearing Mercury after 8 years in space — Scientific American
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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