BepiColombo
Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter
Artist's depiction of theBepiColombomission, with the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (left) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (right)
Mission typePlanetary science
OperatorESA ·JAXA
COSPAR ID2018-080A
SATCATno.43653
Mission durationCruise: 7 years (planned)
Science phase: 1 year (planned)
3 years, 8 months and 12 days(in progress)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerAirbus ·ISAS
Launch mass4,100 kg (9,000 lb)
BOL massMPO: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb)
Mio: 255 kg (562 lb)
Dry mass2,700 kg (6,000 lb)
DimensionsMPO: 2.4 m × 2.2 m × 1.7 m (7 ft 10 in × 7 ft 3 in × 5 ft 7 in)
Mio: 1.8 m × 1.1 m (5 ft 11 in × 3 ft 7 in)
PowerMPO: 150 watts
Mio: 90 watts
Start of mission
Launch date20 October 2018, 01:45 UTC
RocketAriane 5 ECA (VA245)
Launch siteCentre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Flyby of Earth(gravity assist)
Closest approach10 April 2020, 04:25 UTC
Distance12,677 km (7,877 mi)
Flyby of Venus(gravity assist)
Closest approach15 October 2020, 03:58 UTC
Distance10,720 km (6,660 mi)
Flyby of Venus(gravity assist)
Closest approach10 August 2021, 13:51 UTC
Distance552 km (343 mi)
Flyby of Mercury(gravity assist)
Closest approach1 October 2021, 23:34:41 UTC
Distance199 km (124 mi)
Mercury orbiter
Spacecraft componentMercury Planetary Orbiter
(MPO)
Orbital insertion5 December 2025 (planned)
Orbital parameters
Perihermion altitude480 km (300 mi)
Apohermion altitude1,500 km (930 mi)
Inclination90,0°
Mercury orbiter
Spacecraft componentMercury Magnetospheric Orbiter
(MMO)
Orbital insertion5 December 2025 (planned)
Orbital parameters
Perihermion altitude590 km (370 mi)
Apohermion altitude11,640 km (7,230 mi)
Inclination90.0°
BepiColombo mission insignia
ESA Solar System insignia forBepiColombo
Horizon 2000 Plus
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