The European Space Agency’s (ESA) BepiColombo spacecraft has completed its sixth gravitational flyby of Mercury, capturing stunning images of the planet from just a few hundred kilometers away. The latest flyby marks a significant milestone in the mission, as the spacecraft slowly gets closer to being captured by Mercury’s gravity.
Launched in 2018, BepiColombo is a joint mission between ESA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) consisting of two orbiters: ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. The spacecraft will enter its final orbit around Mercury in 2026, allowing it to begin operations in early 2027.
During the latest flyby, BepiColombo captured images of Mercury’s terminator, revealing permanently shadowed craters at the planet’s north pole. These craters, which were previously unknown, have dark floors that are some of the coldest places in the Sun. Additionally, the spacecraft caught stunning views of Mercury’s volcanic plains, including the Borealis Planitia and Caloris Basin.
The images also revealed evidence of recent volcanic activity, with a bright region showing signs of a massive eruption 40 kilometers across. In contrast, a smaller crater to the left is only 300 million years old. The findings provide new insights into Mercury’s geology and volcanism, offering a glimpse into the planet’s fascinating history.
The BepiColombo spacecraft will continue to study Mercury, providing valuable data on its surface composition, magnetic field, and rotation. With its upcoming arrival in early 2027, the mission is set to make even more groundbreaking discoveries about the smallest planet in our solar system.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/170394/bepicolombo-just-completed-its-sixth-flyby-of-mercury-here-are-the-best-images