BepiColombo’s Journey to Mercury: Exploring the Innermost Planet

Nestled closest to the sun, Mercury is a world of extremes. It’s the smallest planet in our solar system, with a surface scorched by the sun’s intense heat and scarred by ancient impacts. To understand this enigmatic world, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched a joint mission called BepiColombo.

A Journey to Mercury

BepiColombo, named after the Italian mathematician and engineer Giuseppe ‘Bepi’ Colombo, embarked on its seven-year journey to Mercury in 2018. The spacecraft consists of two orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) built by ESA and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) built by JAXA. These orbiters will work together to study Mercury’s magnetic field, surface, and composition.

The journey to Mercury is not a straightforward one. The spacecraft has to contend with the sun’s immense gravity, which constantly pulls it inwards. To counteract this, BepiColombo has performed a series of gravity assist maneuvers, using the gravitational pull of Earth, Venus, and Mercury itself to slow down and eventually enter orbit around the planet.

The Mission’s Objectives

BepiColombo’s primary mission objectives are:

• Study Mercury’s magnetic field: The planet’s magnetic field is surprisingly strong, and BepiColombo will investigate its origin, structure, and interaction with the solar wind.
• Map Mercury’s surface: The spacecraft will create detailed maps of Mercury’s surface, revealing its geological history and the distribution of various elements and minerals.
• Investigate Mercury’s internal structure: By measuring the planet’s gravity field, BepiColombo will help scientists understand the composition and structure of Mercury’s interior.
• Explore Mercury’s exosphere: The planet has a very thin atmosphere called an exosphere, and BepiColombo will study its composition and how it interacts with the solar wind.

The Instruments on Board

BepiColombo is equipped with a suite of advanced instruments designed to collect data about Mercury. Some of the key instruments include:

• Magnetometer: Measures the strength and direction of Mercury’s magnetic field.
• Spectrometer: Analyzes the light reflected from Mercury’s surface to determine its composition.
• Camera: Takes high-resolution images of Mercury’s surface.
• Radar: Penetrates Mercury’s surface to map its subsurface structure.

Early Discoveries

Even before entering orbit around Mercury, BepiColombo has made some intriguing discoveries. The spacecraft has observed:

• Unexpectedly strong magnetic field: Measurements taken during flybys of Mercury revealed that the planet’s magnetic field is stronger than previously thought.
• Evidence of volcanic activity: Images captured by BepiColombo show evidence of volcanic activity on Mercury’s surface, suggesting that the planet may be geologically active.
• Mysterious bright spots: The spacecraft has detected bright spots on Mercury’s surface, which could be caused by deposits of ice or other volatile substances.

The Future of BepiColombo

BepiColombo entered orbit around Mercury in December 2025, and its mission is expected to last for at least a year. The data collected by the spacecraft will provide scientists with valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the innermost planet in our solar system. BepiColombo’s discoveries will help us understand the processes that shaped Mercury and the other rocky planets in our solar system.

Conclusion

BepiColombo’s journey to Mercury is a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of knowledge. By studying this enigmatic world, we gain a deeper understanding of our place in the cosmos and the processes that shaped our solar system. As BepiColombo continues its mission, we can anticipate more exciting discoveries that will reshape our understanding of Mercury and the solar system as a whole.