BepiColombo facts for kids
Artist's depiction of the BepiColombo mission, with the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (left) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (right)
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| Mission type | Planetary science |
|---|---|
| Operator | ESA · JAXA |
| Mission duration | Planned: 1+ year |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | EADS Astrium · ISAS |
| Launch mass | 4,100 kg (9,040 lb) |
| BOL mass | MPO: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb) MMO: 255 kg (560 lb) |
| Dry mass | 2,700 kg (5,950 lb) |
| Dimensions | MPO: 2.4 × 2.2 × 1.7 m (7.9 × 7.2 × 5.6 ft) MMO: 1.8 × 1.1 m (5.9 × 3.6 ft) |
| Power | MPO: 150 W MMO: 90 W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Planned: October 2018 |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Mercury orbiter | |
| Spacecraft component | Mercury Planetary Orbiter |
| Orbital insertion | Planned: 5 December 2025 |
| Orbit parameters | |
| Perihermion | 480 km (300 mi) |
| Apohermion | 1,500 km (930 mi) |
| Inclination | 90° |
| Mercury orbiter | |
| Spacecraft component | Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter |
| Orbital insertion | Planned: 5 December 2025 |
| Orbit parameters | |
| Perihermion | 590 km (370 mi) |
| Apohermion | 11,640 km (7,230 mi) |
| Inclination | 90° |
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Horizon 2000+
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The BepiColombo mission is a big space project. It is a team effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Their goal is to send two spacecraft to study the planet Mercury.
The mission was launched in October 2018. It is expected to reach Mercury in December 2025. Once there, the spacecraft will orbit Mercury for at least one year. They will collect important information about the planet.
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What is BepiColombo?
BepiColombo is not just one spacecraft. It is made up of two main orbiters. An orbiter is a spacecraft that goes into orbit around a planet. These two orbiters will study Mercury from different heights.
The Two Orbiters
- The first orbiter is the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO). ESA built this part. It will study Mercury's surface and what it is made of.
- The second orbiter is the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). JAXA built this part. It is also called Mio. It will study Mercury's magnetic field and the space around it.
Why Study Mercury?
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is also the smallest planet in our solar system. Studying Mercury helps scientists learn more about how planets form. It also helps us understand how planets change over time.
Journey to Mercury
The trip to Mercury is very long and tricky. BepiColombo cannot fly straight to Mercury. It has to use a special path. This path involves flying past Earth, Venus, and Mercury many times. These flybys use the gravity of the planets to speed up or slow down the spacecraft. This saves a lot of fuel.
Launch and Travel
The mission launched from the Guiana Space Centre. It used an Ariane 5 rocket. The journey will take about seven years. During this time, the spacecraft will travel billions of kilometers.
Arrival at Mercury
When BepiColombo arrives at Mercury, it will perform special maneuvers. These will help it slow down enough to enter orbit. Then, the two orbiters will separate. Each will go into its own planned orbit around Mercury.
What Will BepiColombo Discover?
Scientists hope BepiColombo will answer many questions about Mercury.
- What is Mercury's core like? Is it liquid or solid?
- How did Mercury get its magnetic field?
- What are the strange features on Mercury's surface?
- Is there ice at Mercury's poles?
The mission will help us understand the inner planets better. These are planets like Earth, Venus, and Mars.
Images for kids
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Animation of BepiColombo's trajectory around Mercury
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Earth flyby on 10 April 2020
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Mercury Planetary Orbiter in ESTEC before stacking
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Radio testing of BepiColombo orbiter
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Mio in ESTEC before stacking
See also
In Spanish: BepiColombo para niños
