BepiColombo prepares for Mercury orbit with fifth flyby

BepiColombo is set to execute its fifth flyby of Mercury on December 1, 2024, as part of its journey toward entering orbit around the Solar System's innermost planet in 2026. During this encounter, the spacecraft will pass between Mercury and the Sun, achieving a closest approach of 37,630 kilometers at 15:23 CET. This distance is significantly greater than previous flybys, which brought it as close as 165-240 kilometers from Mercury's surface.

A notable highlight of this flyby will be the first operational use of BepiColombo's MERTIS instrument. This radiometer and thermal infrared spectrometer will observe Mercury in mid-infrared wavelengths (7-14 micrometers), offering insights into the planet's surface composition and temperature. This represents a pioneering step, as no spacecraft has previously captured data in this spectral range. The findings are expected to contribute significantly to understanding Mercury's mineral composition, addressing one of the mission's primary scientific objectives.

Additionally, other scientific instruments aboard BepiColombo will collect data outside Mercury's magnetic field. These include the MPO-MAG and MMO-MGF magnetometers, the MGNS gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, the SIXS X-ray and particle spectrometer, the MDM dust monitor, and the PWI instrument, which measures electric fields, plasma waves, and radio emissions. These observations will enhance understanding of the solar wind and Mercury's magnetospheric environment.

BepiColombo is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It comprises two orbiters: ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. Currently en route to Mercury, the orbiters are connected via the Mercury Transfer Module, which facilitates their journey through the Solar System.