BepiColombo mission enters final stretch toward Mercury orbital insertion

The short version

• The European Space Agency-led BepiColombo mission reached a critical milestone as it approaches its final encounter with Mercury.[Ars Technica]
• Launched in 2018, the robotic probe relied on plasma propulsion and planetary flybys to adjust its speed for orbital capture.[Ars Technica]
• A final encounter scheduled for later this year is designed to allow Mercury's gravity to capture the spacecraft into orbit.[Ars Technica]

Key facts

• BepiColombo is an approximately $2 billion mission led by the European Space Agency, with contributions from Japan and the United States.[Ars Technica]
• Since launching in 2018, the probe has utilized plasma propulsion and flybys of Earth, Venus, and Mercury to spiral toward the Sun.[Ars Technica]
• Reaching and entering orbit around Mercury requires more delta-v energy than a flyby mission to Pluto.[Ars Technica]
• Velocity adjustments have prepared the spacecraft for gravitational capture into Mercury's orbit during an encounter later this year.[Ars Technica]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• After 8 years, Europe's BepiColombo mission is on final approach to MercuryArs Technica