Asteroid belt neighbour Mercury remains a world of extremes, defying expectations with its iron core, ice at poles, and frequent solar storms. To better understand this unforgiving planet, Suzie Imber, co-investigator on Europe and Japan’s BepiColombo mission, hopes to unlock its secrets.
Imber’s work on space weather may help prepare Earth for similar solar storms. Her involvement in the BBC’s Astronauts: Do you have what it takes? competition showcased her expertise in space travel.
The latest flyby has provided valuable insights into Mercury, with the BepiColombo mission set to slow down before entering orbit in 2026. Imber is excited about this new era of exploration, citing Mercury’s under-explored nature and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
The reasons behind returning to Mercury are multifaceted, from its relative lack of exploration to the opportunities it offers. As Imber notes, ‘Mercury is a pretty unexplored planet. We’ve had three flybys and one orbital mission, but the more we learn,…
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26535260-100-the-space-physicist-on-a-mission-to-discover-why-mercury-has-shrunk