Why did BepiColombo need 8 years to reach Mercury?
Quick answer: The hard part is losing Earth’s orbital speed so the spacecraft can match Mercury instead of falling past it into a faster solar orbit.
The hard part is losing Earth’s orbital speed so the spacecraft can match Mercury instead of falling past it into a faster solar orbit.
- Earth, Venus, and Mercury flybys traded tiny amounts of momentum with the planets to reshape the route.
- Solar-electric thrusters supplied efficient, low-force braking over long periods.
- Near arrival, the Mercury Transfer Module separates after finishing the cruise and propulsion job.
- ESA’s MPO will map the surface and interior while JAXA’s Mio studies Mercury’s magnetic field and space environment.
Good to know: Gravity assists save propellant, but the carefully timed loops are why the journey takes years.
Source: Wired
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