BEPICOLOMBO’S SIXTH FLYBY OF MERCURY: A STEP TOWARDS ORBIT - OHB-Italia

#BepiColombo, the joint #ESA #JAXA mission, is approaching its sixth close encounter with #Mercury, one of the final steps before entering orbit in late 2026.
This flyby is particularly challenging: for the first time, the spacecraft will go to Mercury from the #darkside of the Planet, spending 23 minutes in freezing darkness, relying solely on battery power. Careful planning ensures the batteries are fully charged and the heating systems remain active until the last second.
During the #flyby, BepiColombo will explore Mercury’s permanently shadowed #craters, untouched by sunlight for millions of years, searching for evidence of water ice. It will also capture data from iconic features such as the massive #CalorisBasin and the northern plains of #BorealisPlanitia.

OHB Italia S.p.A. Italia is proud to have contributed to this mission as Prime Contractor for the #SERENApayload, a suite of four instruments designed to detect particles emitted from Mercury’s surfaceand.
With each flyby, BepiColombo brings us closer to uncovering Mercury’s secrets. Stay tuned for more updates from this groundbreaking mission!

#BepiColombo #MercuryExploration #OHBItalia #ESAJAXA #SpaceScience
Probe Photo Credits: European Space Agency
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