On the 23rd of June, the BepiColombo spacecraft carried out a second approach mission to Mercuryin the six planned before its definitive entry into orbit that should take place in 2025. The mission, led by space agencies, the European ESA and the Japanese JAXA, aimed to aim to approach within about 200 kilometers of the planet’s surface. Along the way, monitoring cameras aboard the ship recorded the trip.
Preliminary images have been published by ESA, captured by one of the cameras of the Mercury Transfer Module instrument, where the craters on the planet’s surface could be observed. These first images were taken at a distance of 920 kilometers from the planet.
See in the gallery the photographs captured by the space probe:
A ESA has now assembled a sequence of 56 images, compiling them to create a short video, offering greater insight into the spacecraft’s approach to the planet.. These were captured in black and white, with a resolution of 1024×1024 pixels. This time the compilation joins the images from the two MCAM cameras of the Mercury Transfer Module.
It is mentioned that this The sequence of images lasted about 15 minutes, starting just after the approach of Mercury.. ESA explains that it first showed the sequence of photos captured by MCAM-2 and then MCAM-3, located at either end of the spacecraft. The focus shots were taken alternately, about 15-20 seconds apart. In the final part of the video, it is possible to see a montage with simultaneous images from the two cameras, offering an improved perspective of the planet.
A This approach allowed us to identify several geological formations on Mercury, which BepiColombo will study in greater detail when it finally reaches its orbit.. It is said that craters dominate the landscape, but there are also volcanic plains, among other geographic lines created by tectonic ruptures. For the first time, the probe observed the Caloris basin, covered by lava, standing out from its black background.
See the entire sequence in the video:
Since it was launched in October 2018, through the Ariane 5 rocket, The spacecraft made one approach to Earth, two to Venus and six predicted to Mercury, using its solar-powered electrical propulsion system to navigate against the Sun’s gravitational pull.. Other sensors sampled the planet’s magnetic particles and plasma at different distances along the way. The team of scientists said the materials collected in these approaches are extremely valuable.
It is expected to identify impact craters, as well as geological details linked to the planet’s volcanic and tectonic activity. ESA says that Mercury has a surface with a 4.6 billion-year history of comet and asteroid bombardment histories. And he hopes that scientists will discover the secrets of its place in the evolution of the Solar System.
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