BepiColombo first Mercury flyby

Visualisation of BepiColombo flying by Mercury on 1 October 2021. The spacecraft makes nine gravity assist manoeuvres (one of Earth, two of Venus and six of Mercury) before entering orbit around the innermost planet of the Solar System.

The closest approach is at 23:34 UTC on 1 October (01:34 CEST 2 October) at a distance of about 200 km.

BepiColombo is an international collaboration between #ESA and #JAXA.

Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

#ESA
#BepiColombo
#Mercury

[savethefunk]

Great holiday destination, if a little warm... ^^

[gerrie]

. . . . lets go alreadyYyYyYyYy . . . .

[ceescees]

temperature differences front and back of Mercury of > 500 degrees Celsius leave traces?

[GMC]

Will it take pictures of Mercury? And if so, how long is it going to take until they will be received and processed?

[thiagofleck]

Interesting! But what will be the minimum distance that BepiColombo will reach Mercury during this first flight over the planet?.

[augustuswiedoff]

Okay so a 3D render of
Something I guess?

[MrHichammohsen]

Gorgeous spacecraft that will give lots and lots of precious science! Thank you ESA and European tax payers on behalf of humanity.

[nuvi]

You can't hear anything because sound doesn't travel in space 😜

[aishasiddeeka]

Fascinating, great work ESA, we are really proud of you ! 👏❤