BepiColombo – A Mission to Mercury

Paper number

IAC-05-A3.2.B.05

Author

Mr. Jan van Casteren, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2005

Abstract

BepiColombo is an interdisciplinary mission to the planet Mercury that has been selected as the 5th cornerstone in the Cosmic Vision programme of the European Space Agency (ESA). Owing to the high scientific potential related to the planet and its environment the mission will open a new frontier in the study of our solar system. Planned for launch in 2012, BepiColombo is a collaboration between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It consists of two scientific orbiters, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), which will study the origin and evolution of the planet, Mercury’s interior dynamics and the origin of the magnetic field. The interplanetary trajectory includes flybys at the Earth, Venus (twice) and Mercury (twice), as well as several long thrust arcs provided by solar electric propulsion. The Mercury orbit capture and lowering to the operational orbits will be done with chemical propulsion. The launch configuration consists of a stack of the two spacecraft and the chemical and electrical propulsion modules.

ESA is responsible for the overall project, including the mission design, the MPO, the electrical and chemical propulsion modules, the launch, the cruise operations up to delivery of the two spacecraft in their respective Mercury orbits and the MPO mission and science operations. JAXA is responsible for the procurement of the MMO and for its mission and science operation at Mercury. The mission definition has been completed and the scientific payload of both spacecrafts has been selected. The article will give a summary of the scientific objectives, the selected payload, an overview of the mission design and its mission analysis. The many technological challenges of the mission will be elaborated.

Abstract document

IAC-05-A3.2.B.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-A3.2.B.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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