Title: BepiColombo Mission Captures Stunning Images of Mercury During Flyby
Date: June 20, 2023
Word Count: 550
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have successfully performed the third gravity-assisted flyby of Mercury as part of the BepiColombo mission. This flyby allowed the spacecraft to capture breathtaking images of the planet’s surface, including newly named impact craters and intriguing geological features. The mission is currently adjusting its course to enter Mercury’s orbit in 2025.
The closest approach occurred on June 19, 2023, at 19:34 UTC (21:34 CET), approximately 236 km above Mercury’s surface, on the planet’s night side. Ignacio Clerigo, the operations manager for the BepiColombo spacecraft at ESA, expressed satisfaction with the flyby, stating that everything went smoothly and the images taken during the approach phase were successfully transmitted to Earth.
During the flyby, Monitoring Camera 3 captured dozens of pictures of Mercury, providing a black and white snapshot with a resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels. These images revealed various geological features, including a newly named impact crater and a remarkable tectonic formation known as Beagle Rupes. The impact crater has been named after Jamaican artist Edna Manley, and its excavation may provide insights into Mercury’s early crust and volcanic activity.
The Beagle Rupes, first spotted by NASA’s Messenger mission in 2008, is a series of cliffs that stretch for about 600 kilometers. These cliffs are believed to have formed due to the planet’s cooling and contraction, resulting in surface wrinkling. The BepiColombo imaging team has engaged in lively discussions about the interplay between volcanoes and tectonic forces in shaping this region.
In addition to capturing stunning images, several scientific instruments on board BepiColombo were operational during the flyby. These instruments collected data on the magnetic, plasma, and particle environment around the spacecraft, providing valuable insights into Mercury’s geological history and its place in the evolution of the solar system.
Looking ahead, BepiColombo’s next Mercury flyby is scheduled for September 5, 2024. However, before that, the mission faces the challenging task of gradually increasing the use of solar electric propulsion through a series of thrust arcs. These arcs will help the spacecraft brake against the Sun’s gravitational pull and ensure a successful entry into Mercury’s orbit.
The BepiColombo mission is a joint endeavor between ESA and JAXA. It consists of two main components: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter, led by ESA, and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter module, led by JAXA. These modules will separate into complementary orbits around Mercury and begin their primary science mission in early 2026.
The BepiColombo mission represents a significant step in our understanding of Mercury and its geological processes. By studying the planet’s highly cratered surface, tectonic features, and volcanic activity, scientists hope to unravel the secrets of Mercury’s formation and its role in the evolution of our solar system.
For more information, please contact the media relations team at the European Space Agency: [email protected]Title: BepiColombo Mission Captures Stunning Images and Discovers Geological Curiosities During Mercury Flyby
Date: June 20, 2023
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) joint mission, BepiColombo, recently performed its third gravity-assisted flyby of Mercury. This flyby, which took place on June 19, 2023, provided the spacecraft with an opportunity to capture breathtaking images of the planet’s surface and discover intriguing geological features.
During the closest approach, BepiColombo came within approximately 236 km above Mercury’s surface, on the planet’s night side. The mission’s Monitoring Camera 3 (MCAM) captured dozens of high-resolution black and white images, revealing newly named impact craters, tectonic features, and volcanic curiosities.
One of the notable discoveries made during the flyby is a large impact crater in the 218 km-wide summit ring, which has been named after Jamaican artist Edna Manley. This crater is of particular interest to scientists as it contains carbon-rich remnants of Mercury’s early crust and evidence of past volcanic activity. BepiColombo will further explore the nature of dark matter associated with the Manley Crater from orbit, aiming to measure its carbon content and associated minerals to gain insights into Mercury’s geological history.
Another fascinating geological feature observed during the flyby is the Beagle Rupes cliffs, located near the planet’s terminator. These cliffs are an example of Mercury’s tectonic activity, resulting from the planet’s cooling and contraction. The complex interactions between these cliffs provide valuable information about Mercury’s tectonic history and will be studied in greater detail once BepiColombo enters orbit.
In addition to capturing stunning images, BepiColombo’s science instruments were actively collecting data on the magnetic, plasma, and particle environment around the spacecraft. This information, combined with the geological observations, will help scientists unravel the secrets of Mercury’s place in the evolution of the solar system.
Looking ahead, BepiColombo’s next Mercury flyby is scheduled for September 5, 2024. However, before that, the mission faces the challenging task of gradually increasing the use of solar electric propulsion through additional periods of thrust called ‘arc thrust.’ These thrust arcs are crucial for braking against the Sun’s massive gravitational pull and ensuring a successful entry into Mercury’s orbit.
The BepiColombo mission, consisting of the Mercury Transport Module, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter, and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter module, aims to explore all aspects of Mercury, including its core, surface processes, magnetic fields, and exosphere. By studying this enigmatic planet, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the origin and evolution of planets close to stars.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations for the European Space Agency at [email protected] All MCAM images will be publicly available in the Archives of Planetary Science from Thursday, June 22, subject to availability. Stay updated on the mission’s progress by following BepiColombo on Twitter @bepicolombo.
Sources:
– [1] “BepiColombo, studying how Mercury formed.” The Planetary Society. URL: https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/bepicolombo
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Ample of surface wrinkling caused by the cooling and contraction of Mercury. Stretching for about 600 kilometers, the Beagle Rupes cliffs were first identified by NASA’s Messenger mission in 2008. The BepiColombo imaging team is currently analyzing the interplay between volcanoes and tectonic forces in shaping this region.
Apart from capturing stunning images, BepiColombo’s scientific instruments also collected valuable data on the magnetic, plasma, and particle environment around the spacecraft. This data will help scientists better understand Mercury’s geological history and its role in the evolution of the solar system.
Looking ahead, BepiColombo is scheduled to have its next Mercury flyby on September 5, 2024. However, before that, the mission faces the challenge of gradually increasing the use of solar electric propulsion to ensure a successful entry into Mercury’s orbit. This propulsion system will be crucial in helping the spacecraft brake against the gravitational pull of the Sun.
The BepiColombo mission is a collaborative effort between ESA and JAXA, consisting of two main components: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (led by ESA) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter module (led by JAXA). These modules will separate into complementary orbits around Mercury and commence their primary science mission in early 2026.
Overall, the BepiColombo mission is making significant strides in our understanding of Mercury and its geological processes. By studying the planet’s cratered surface, tectonic features, and volcanic activity, scientists hope to gain insights into Mercury’s formation and its role in shaping the solar system.
