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The space mission BepiColombo is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with the aim of studying Mercury, the closest planet to Floorsaws. Launched in 2018, the mission to Mercury aims to better understand the formation and evolution of the planets in the solar system. 47170
Recently, BepiColombo faced technical difficulties. During a maneuver on April 26, the electric propulsion module, which runs on solar energy, was unable to provide enough power to the spacecraft's thrusters, according to the ESA. About 11 days later, engineers managed to restore the probe's thrust to nearly its previous level, but it was still 10% below ideal. These adjustments are crucial to ensure that the BepiColombo Continue your journey and fulfill your scientific goals.
What is the BepiColombo mission to Mercury 2t2v1h
The mission BepiColombo is one of the most ambitious and complex interplanetary expeditions ever undertaken, aimed at exploring Mercury, the innermost planet in the solar system. With collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the main objective of the space mission focuses on deepening knowledge about the planet closest to the sun. BepiColombo was named in honor of Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo, an Italian scientist who contributed significantly to the understanding of planetary orbits and gravitational interactions.
Since its launch on October 20, 2018, the BepiColombo faces a challenging path to Mercury, which includes nine planetary flybys (one of Earth, two of Venus and six of Mercury) before entering orbit around the planet in 2025. These flybys are necessary to slow the probe to Mercury and adjust its trajectory to allow precise orbital insertion, given the Sun's intense gravitational field that makes the journey especially complex.
O Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), developed by JAXAAnd Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), developed by ESA, make up the mission with the MMO focusing on analyzing the planet's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind, while the MPO focuses on studying the surface and composition of Mercury, as well as its internal structure. These probes are coupled during the trip to the planet, but will separate when they arrive at Mercury to carry out different investigations.
Until then, only two spacecraft — both from NASA — had traveled to Mercury. The first was the Mariner 10, which flew over the planet three times between 1974 and 1975, providing the first images of its surface and discovering its thin exosphere. The second was the mission MESSENGER, launched in 2004 and orbiting Mercury from 2011 to 2015, revealed crucial details about the planet's geology, composition and magnetic field, significantly expanding our knowledge of this enigmatic world.
Objectives 5w6z26
The mission BepiColombo has a series of ambitious scientific goals that aim to unravel the mysteries of Mercury. One of the main objectives is to map the planet's surface in high resolution to better understand its geology and tectonic history. The mission also intends to investigate the chemical composition of the surface, including the search for volatile elements that could provide clues about the formation and evolution of the planet. Furthermore, BepiColombo will study Mercury's exosphere, a tenuous layer of gases surrounding the planet, to understand its dynamics and interaction with the solar wind.
Another crucial objective of the mission is to analyze Mercury's magnetic field, which is unique among rocky planets other than Earth, and investigate its origin and structure. This includes measuring the planet's magnetosphere and how it is influenced by the solar wind. The mission will also seek to understand the internal structure of Mercury, including its core, mantle and crust, using gravity and topography data. These studies will help clarify why Mercury has such a high density compared to other terrestrial planets.
Space agencies have specific interests in this mission. To the ESA, BepiColombo represents an opportunity to demonstrate its technological and scientific capabilities in a complex interplanetary mission. The mission will also allow ESA contribute significantly to planetary science and the understanding of the processes that shape planets close to the Sun. Additionally, the ESA is interested in developing technologies that can be applied in future space missions, including electric propulsion systems and technologies for resistance to extreme environments.
For JAXA, BepiColombo It's a chance to strengthen your international collaboration and expand your experience in interplanetary missions. A JAXA is particularly interested in studying Mercury's magnetic field and its interactions with the solar wind, areas in which it has a strong research tradition. The mission will also allow JAXA test and improve its space exploration technologies, contributing to the development of future missions to other planets and celestial bodies.
Together, the two agencies hope that the data collected by BepiColombo significantly advance our knowledge of Mercury and, by extension, the formation and evolution of rocky planets in the solar system. The collaboration between the ESA and JAXA This mission highlights the importance of international cooperation in space exploration and the advancement of planetary science.
Since its launch in 2018, the mission BepiColombo has achieved remarkable results in exploring Mercury. On its first approach in October 2021, the probe flew over the planet for gravitational assistance, capturing images that provide new perspectives on Mercury. In June 2022, BepiColombo carried out its second flyby, reaching an impressive 200 km from the planet's surface and capturing high-resolution images that reveal unprecedented geological details.
In June 2023, during its third flyby, the probe managed to get as close as 236 km to the surface of Mercury. During this age, BepiColombo took dozens of photos that included a newly named crater as well as significant tectonic and volcanic formations. The probe, however, will only be able to enter Mercury's orbit in 2025, promising even more fascinating discoveries about this enigmatic planet.
Mission spacecraft problems 2jqq
The mission BepiColombo faces technical challenges that could affect its planned scientific operations due to a maneuver carried out in April 2023, when the electric propulsion module, essential for adjusting the spacecraft's trajectory, did not provide sufficient energy to the spacecraft's thrusters. BepiColombo, operating with solar energy. Although engineers were able to restore thrust almost to its previous level, it is still 10% below expectations.
This reduction in thrust raises concerns about the probe's ability to perform planned flybys between September 2024 and January 2025. Experts are working to extend the duration of the thrust arc, ensuring the spacecraft remains on the correct course for its future operations. scientific. The big problem is the speed acquired as the spacecraft approaches the Sun, making deceleration in the vacuum of space a complex task. The strategy of performing sequential flybys of planets is essential, as it allows the probe to burn energy without carrying excessive amounts of fuel, which would make the spacecraft too heavy to launch.
The long-term impact of these challenges on the mission is still uncertain, with the team of spaceflight experts at ESA and its partners working on a solution to the problem, but assessing the long-term impact on the mission as uncertain.
The setback was not the only one since the start of the mission: last year, the probe also faced challenges, requiring a significant course correction to compensate for previous thruster interruptions. These problems are part of the unique challenge of reaching Mercury, as the spacecraft needs to fly slowly enough to be pulled by the planet's gravity. This requires careful choreography of maneuvers around planets to slow the spacecraft.
Why is it so difficult to get to Mercury 5h1d7
A combination of factors makes it difficult to reach Mercury, making it an extremely challenging task. Firstly, the planet is located very close to the Sun, making it a difficult target to reach and explore. The proximity to the Sun means that the space probe needs to overcome the Sun's enormous gravitational pull to reach the planet. Furthermore, Mercury's high orbital speed, around 47,87 km/s, makes it necessary for the probe to significantly reduce its speed to be captured by the planet's gravity.
Another challenge is the extreme temperature on Mercury. During the day, the surface temperature can reach around 430°C, due to its proximity to the Sun, while during the night, the temperature can drop to -180°C due to the lack of a significant atmosphere to retain heat. These extreme conditions require space probes to be designed to withstand extreme temperature variations.
Additionally, Mercury's gravitational field is relatively weak compared to Earth, which means the probe needs a significant amount of fuel for deceleration maneuvers and orbital insertion. This increases the logistical and technical challenge of the mission.
To overcome these challenges, space missions to Mercury often involve a series of gravitational-assist maneuvers around other planets, such as Venus and Earth, to slow the probe and direct it onto a correct trajectory toward Mercury. These maneuvers require careful planning and precise execution to ensure the probe reaches its destination successfully.
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Sources: Mashable, NASA e ESA.
reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 20 / 5 / 24.
