BepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the planet Mercury. It comprises two orbiters, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter built and operated by ESA and Mio, the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, built and operated by JAXA, which travelled to Mercury stacked with the Mercury Transfer Module and the Mio sunshield. The mission was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket on 20 October 2018 from Kourou in French Guiana, and a power-related thruster anomaly in 2024 delayed arrival at Mercury to November 2026. In 2007 Astrium, now Airbus Defence and Space, was selected as prime contractor. The transfer module uses solar electric propulsion with four QinetiQ T6 ion thrusters.
Facts
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Exemplifies
Source BepiColombo (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source BepiColombo (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Same As
Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: the same subject.
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Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source BepiColombo (Wikipedia)History, prime contractorQuote, History, prime contractor
In 2007, Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) was selected as the prime contractor
Sources
1. BepiColombo (Wikipedia)
Overview, launch
It was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket on 20 October 2018, with Mercury orbit insertion planned for December 2025
Lead, orbiters
The mission comprises two orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), built and operated by ESA, and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, MMO), built and operated by JAXA.
Spacecraft, transfer module propulsion
Its four QinetiQ-T6 ion thrusters operated singly or in pairs for a maximum combined thrust of 290 mN
Mission, arrival
Expected to arrive in Mercury orbit in November 2026, the Mio and MPO satellites will separate and observe Mercury in collaboration for one year
History, prime contractor
In 2007, Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) was selected as the prime contractor
Exemplifies: Space Transport, Lead, Mercury mission
The mission comprises two orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), built and operated by ESA, and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, MMO), built and operated by JAXA.
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