Spacecraft bound for Mercury faces ‘tricky’ arrival

Mercury, the smallest and least understood planet in our solar system, poses a significant challenge for spacecraft attempting to approach due to its proximity to the sun and weak gravitational pull. The BepiColombo mission, a collaborative effort between European and Japanese space agencies, embarked on an eight-year journey to Mercury in 2018.

Comprised of two probes attached to a transfer module, the spacecraft must execute precise manoeuvres and flybys to reach the planet and separate the probes. The arrival phase is described by the European Space Agency as the most challenging planetary entry yet attempted. While many components are being tested for the first time in the extreme conditions, the mission remains poised to provide unprecedented insights into Mercury's magnetic field, iron core, and surface features.