Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

BepiColombo Successfully Begins Its Final Descent To Mercury


The latest mission to the innermost planet in the solar system hit a milestone last week. After an eight year journey, BepiColombo finally separated from its propulsion stage to set itself up for an orbital insertion to Mercury. Taking place on September 3rd, the separation, which is part of a much longer series of logistical steps over the next few months, seemed to go without a hitch. But getting to that point was certainly a process, and still more challenges lie ahead.

None

Get the Android app

Or read this on Universe Today

Read more on:

Photo of Mercury

Mercury

Photo of BepiColombo

BepiColombo

Photo of final descent

final descent

Related news:

News photo

After 8 years, Europe’s BepiColombo mission is on final approach to Mercury: “Fundamentally, we want to learn about the origins of this planet and how it came to be like it is.”

News photo

BepiColombo Begins Final Approach to Mercury

News photo

I recreated Apollo 11's final descent, synced to the actual flight computer's assembly code (1202 alarm and all)