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How does BepiColombo study Mercury’s surface and magnetosphere?
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Mercury
Mercury as seen by the Messenger probe, January 14, 2008. This image shows half of the hemisphere missed by Mariner 10 in 1974–75 and was snapped by Messenger's Wide Angle Camera when it was about 27,000 km (17,000 miles) from the planet.
The BepiColombo mission, a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, utilizes a two-part spacecraft design to conduct a comprehensive study of Mercury.1
The mission employs two distinct orbiters to focus on different aspects of the planet:
- Mercury Planetary Orbiter (ESA): This component is specifically designed to study the planet’s surface and internal composition.1
- Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (JAXA): This component is dedicated to the study of Mercury’s magnetosphere, allowing scientists to analyze the planet's magnetic environment and its interactions with the solar wind.1
By separating these scientific objectives into two specialized orbiters, BepiColombo aims to build upon the foundational data gathered by previous missions like Mariner 10 and Messenger, providing deeper insights into the geological and magnetic nature of the innermost planet.1