After eight years of traveling through the Solar System, the BepiColombo mission, jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has entered one of its most important phases on its journey to Mercury.
On Thursday, September 3, the mission’s transfer module separated from the two scientific orbiters that will continue toward the planet. The goal is for both spacecraft to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026 and later separate to study the planet from different positions.
The BepiColombo mission will seek to gather information about Mercury’s magnetic field, surface, interior, and surrounding environment, a world that still holds many mysteries for scientists.
Why is this mission so important?
Because it will allow scientists to study Mercury using two specialized orbiters and collect data that could help explain how the planets in our Solar System formed and evolved.
Scientific operations are expected to begin in April 2027, marking the start of a new chapter in the exploration of the closest planet to the Sun.
