Watch live: BepiColombo begins its arrival at Mercury

The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission is prepared for the primary essential step in the direction of arriving at its last vacation spot, the mysterious planet Mercury. After eight years of travelling collectively as one stacked spacecraft, ESA’s Mercury Switch Module (MTM), which has powered BepiColombo’s interplanetary journey, will separate from BepiColombo’s two science orbiters on 3 September 2026.  

However separation is simply the starting. 

Attending to Mercury is tough. Arriving there’s even tougher. BepiColombo’s arrival is likely one of the most demanding operational sequences ever carried out by ESA. MTM’s separation on 3 September is simply step one. After MTM has separated, in November ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) will enter orbit round Mercury collectively, earlier than separating from one another in December 2026. Science operations will start in April 2026. 

After MTM has separated, in November ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) will enter orbit round Mercury collectively, earlier than separating from one another in December 2026. Science operations will start in April 2026. 

The programme can be broadcast dwell from ESA’s European Area Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, the programme contains dwell views from the enduring Primary Management Room the place the Mission Management Crew can be finishing up the separation operations. Our co-hosts will share particular mission moments. ESA and JAXA consultants will present behind-the-scenes insights and professional evaluation.  

Then comes the wait. Following separation, groups on Earth will pay attention for BepiColombo’s submit separation acquisition of sign and perform the primary checks to substantiate the spacecraft is wholesome and the operation has gone to plan.  

Watch dwell from 13:45 CEST on 3 September

All instances in CEST and topic to vary at brief discover. Tune in to comply with dwell: ESA on YouTube; ESA on LinkedIn.

13:45 – Begin of ESA livestream programme, streaming from ESA’s European Area Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany 

14:00 – MTM separation 

14:30 – One-hour break in livestream 

15:30 – Livestream resumes 

15:53 – Earliest anticipated acquisition of sign after separation, adopted by a spacecraft standing verify 

16:15-16:45 – Finish of ESA livestream 

Comply with us on social media for updates

Be a part of the dialog with #BepiColombo and ask questions by way of #AskESA. Through the livestream, you can too ask questions within the dwell chat.

BlueSky: ESA, ESA Operations, ESA Space Science 

LinkedIn: European Space Agency – ESA, ESA Operations, ESA Space Science

Instagram: Europeanspaceagency 

Fb: EuropeanSpaceAgency 

YouTube: ESA 

X: European Space Agency, ESA Operations, ESA Science

About BepiColombo

Launched on 20 October 2018, BepiColombo is a joint mission between the European Area Company (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Company (JAXA), operated below ESA management. It’s each Europe and Japan’s first mission to Mercury, the primary two-spacecraft mission to Mercury, and solely the second mission to ever enter orbit concerning the rocky world.

The mission includes two scientific orbiters: ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio). The European Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) has been carrying the orbiters to Mercury.    

Throughout arrival at Mercury in late 2026, the spacecraft will separate in Mio’s polar science orbit. MPO will then manoeuvre to itsdedicated polar orbit across the planet. Science operations for each orbiters will start in April 2027.   

Comply with the newest mission information by way of esa.int/bepicolombo. 

Discover out extra about Space Science at ESA, the Company’s Science Programme and the way ESA Operations makes missions like BepiColombo potential.  

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