New images of Mercury reveal details from BepiColombo mission flyby

wired.com

New images of Mercury from the BepiColombo mission show detailed features of the planet. The spacecraft completed its sixth flyby on January 8, using Mercury's gravity to adjust its path toward orbiting the planet by late 2026. BepiColombo is a collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Launched in 2018, it consists of two probes designed to study Mercury's composition and magnetic field. The probes will separate during the next approach and enter polar orbits. Scientific operations are set to begin in early 2027, focusing on Mercury's formation and potential water ice in its craters.


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