The most difficult mission in the history of the European Space Agency has cleared another hurdle: It also delivered the first images of the planet Mercury.

Kassel – the smallest, fastest and first in the Solar System: the planet Mercury. A mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) has been moving towards the nearest planet to the Sun in our solar system for three years.

Now the space probe has transmitted the first images. The probe, named “BepiColombo”, is the third mission ever to have made it near Mercury. the other two departed from the mission US space agency NASA End.

Images from space – “BepiColombo” ESA’s most complex project to date

For ESA scientists, the mission is considered one of the most complex missions ever conducted. The Sun’s high gravitational pull makes conditions difficult for Mercury to orbit the planet. “BepiColombo” must be slowed down quickly to enter Mercury’s orbit. A total of nine planet flybys are required for this.

The probe has already mastered three more than the current one. one crossed the earth, the other two passed that Mercury’s neighbor planet VenusCurrently, the probe flew over Mercury for the first time. Despite the difficult conditions, it was possible to take the first pictures of the smallest planet in the Solar System.

Space: First snapshot succeeds despite tough conditions

after check August 10, 2021 on Fri It crossed Mercury at an altitude of 199 meters at around 11:44 pm on October 1, 2021. According to ESA, “BepiColombo” took black-and-white images of Mercury’s northern hemisphere. However, the probe’s high-resolution camera was covered during the flyby, so the images were recorded by two surveillance cameras. Since the first flyby was on the night side, conditions for recording were difficult.

Objective of all missions: to trace the history of the planet and the solar system

The surface of Mercury is very reminiscent of the Moon. Through research, scientists want to find out more about the origin and evolution of Mercury. The history of the youngest planet is about 4.6 billion years old. One approach here is a mapping of the planet’s surface. The “BepiColombo” space probe brings two so-called orbiters (satellites) into the orbit of Mercury.

However, this will happen only in 2025. ESA announced that the satellites will explore the planet’s magnetic, plasma and particle atmosphere. The project, with a total volume of two billion euros, also aims to help understand the origins of our solar system. Leading the mission in collaboration with the European Space Agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japanese Space Research Agency). The examinations of the celestial body are to be held from December 2025.

Space Mission: Namesake’s Birthday

The time of the first flight of Mercury falls on the night of the probe’s name’s birthday. Giuseppe “Beppy” Colombo would have turned 110 on October 2, 2021. Italian engineer and scientist discovered that planetary gravity can aid in the trajectory of a space probe. If the point of flyby is chosen carefully, it can help the spacecraft make more flybys.

This so-called swing-by maneuver was first implemented by NASA with the Mariner 10 probe. The probe began in 1973 and passed by Mercury on March 29, 1974, after flying past Venus. “BepiColombo” uses the support of gravity in addition to its solar-electric propulsion system. anyone interested in flying “BepiColombo” space probe Those interested can follow him on Twitter. (Lucas Meier) * hna.de is an offer ippn.media.

Header list image: © Cromorange/Nat Nihus via www.imago-images.de