BepiColombo Launch 20 Oct 2018

Mission to the Mercury

BepiColombo launch from French Guiana

     A collaborative mission between European Space Agency and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency to the smallest planet in our solar system Mercury lifted off from launch pad at French Guiana Research Center, Kourou on 19th October 2018 at 02:45 AM according to UK standard time.

The spacecraft BepiColombo intended to spend 7 years cruise towards the planet. It will separate into two spacecraft and will conduct orbit around Mercury for a year. It is delineated that, the mission cost was around $2 billion USD dollars.

    The spacecraft was launched onboard Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle carrying the spacecraft together. It will explore and gather more information about the inner most planet in our solar system. This attempt was so long since Messenger intended to flyby observations.

    BepiColombo planned to begin its observation in December 2025 following the series of one of Earth flybys, two to Venus and six flybys to Mercur. Travelling from Earth's orbit to Mercury takes longer time. Perhaps, it allows scientists and engineers to test their instruments onboard before reaching Mercury's orbit.

    It has Mercury Planetary Orbiter designed and built by European Space Agency | Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter built by Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.