Talk:BepiColombo

Can we add images

Are there any images of the components and full stack that can be added to the article ? Rod57 (talk) 11:32, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Given that this is an ESA programme there are unlikely to be any free-use images. Any image uploaded would have to have a fair-use rational. ChiZeroOne (talk) 11:53, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Hi there, in line with ESA's relatively new Open Access Policy, there's a bunch of images (check the individual licenses please) and even videos (1 - 2) now available under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

See also Fæ's project list. Mtrova (talk) 15:53, 6 July 2017 (UTC)

I think Fæ managed to catch all of the CC'd BepiColombo images there, and all should be in Commons:Category:BepiColombo. Additionally, I didn't find anything useful on Flickr that we didn't already have. — Huntster (t @ c) 10:03, 10 July 2017 (UTC)

I have added some new photos, of the full size engineering model on display in London. The photos and videos include close-ups of the thermal insulation details. https://www.flickr.com/photos/douglasheld/albums/72157677150173968 - DouglasHeld (talk) 07:16, 30 December 2018 (UTC)

Capture

Can someone explain how and exactly when BepiColombo gets captured by Mercury? This ESA site doesn't explain it very well. Eric Kvaalen (talk) 13:23, 7 August 2017 (UTC)

Eric Kvaalen, BepiColombo will perform several flybys of Mercury, and each one will slow the spacecraft down. Normally a spacecraft flies by a planet and uses its gravity to speed up (and change trajectory); in this case, BepiColombo is doing the exact opposite: using Mercury's gravity to rob it of velocity. When it comes time for its orbital insertion, it's my understanding that Mercury will approach the spacecraft from behind, allowing the vehicle to "slide" or "drift" into a highly elliptical initial orbit with only minimal corrective engine burns. The two component spacecraft will then separate and each will maneuver into their own science orbits. — Huntster (t @ c) 23:41, 7 August 2017 (UTC)

Thanks, Huntster. But I have two problems with what you say. First of all, let's say, as an approximation, that Mercury has a circular orbit. Then its speed around the sun is constant. Assuming it doesn't use its thruster, BepiColombo is on an elliptical orbit around the sun at any given time (except when under the influence of Mercury's gravity). There is a particular speed (in the sun's frame of reference) that it will have whenever it crosses Mercury's orbit, and in fact since it crosses Mercury's orbit at the same angle each time (whether crossing inwards or outwards) it will have the same speed relative to Mercury. So let's say it leaves Mercury after the first flyby with a particular "hyperbolic excess speed". When it comes back to Mercury (still assuming it doesn't use its thruster) it will again have that same hyperbolic excess speed as it approaches Mercury, and then after speeding up and slowing down (in Mercury's frame of reference) it will depart with that same hyperbolic excess speed, but in a new direction and therefore a new orbit. This means it can change its orbit and its period at each flyby, but it will always come back to Mercury with the same speed relative to Mercury! Which is not actually the case. I suppose this is because it does use its ion thruster as it orbits. Or maybe because the orbit of Mercury is not exactly circular.

The other problem I have is that in a two-body system, one body (BepiColombo) cannot sidle up to the other and just get into orbit around it. If it comes fromm "infinity" with a certain hyperbolic excess speed, then it will end up leaving towards infinity with that same hyperbolic excess speed. So how can BepiColombo get into orbit "without an orbit insertion manoeuvre being required" as that ESA site says? Maybe since it's actually a three-body system it is possible -- in other words the sun somehow makes it possible. But that same site goes on to say that a "small manoeuvre" is needed to get captured -- that means a small impartation of momentum from thrusters. So it's not clear. Eric Kvaalen (talk) 06:53, 8 August 2017 (UTC)

Eric Kvaalen, yeah, the available explanations are pretty inadequate, possibly intentionally so that laymen's eyes don't glaze over. I would assume that the mechanics work exactly because both Mercury's natural orbit and BC's approach orbit have quite the eccentricity compared to other planets, and because of the three-body system with the Sun. This approach and capture is so meticulous, I'd guess it's one of (if not the) most complex ever attempted. Not that it is particularly dangerous or risky, just very precise and time-involved. After all, it won't enter orbit until December 2025. And yes, based on what I've read, there is definitely some engine firing that takes place to enable orbital capture, but it is significantly less involved than a traditional insertion. And that's an important distinction...the spacecraft isn't inserting itself into Mercury's orbit, but is almost literally being captured into its initial orbit by Mercury's gravity well, with only a little input by the spacecraft itself. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can chime in with the particular details. — Huntster (t @ c) 08:38, 8 August 2017 (UTC)

oh ok 2600:1702:4EB0:45E0:119E:A095:AA13:9354 (talk) 14:48, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

Study of the core - tweaking?

" They will characterise the huge liquid iron core " - currently, the core is theorized to be part solid and part liquid - is the probe ONLY going to study that portion of the core, or does this need clarification? 50.111.19.178 (talk) 16:35, 23 October 2018 (UTC)

 Done You are correct. The mission will characterize the solid and a liquid core and determine the size of each. . Rowan Forest (talk) 16:42, 23 October 2018 (UTC)

Thermal insulation blanket

The thermal insulating jacket is to me the most interesting aspect of the spacecraft, but there is no information in the article. DouglasHeld (talk) 07:11, 30 December 2018 (UTC)

Animation of BepiColombo's trajectory

It goes too fast making it difficult to follow. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.242.214.5 (talk) 09:04, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

It is because a restriction of Commons; maximum of 50 megapixels. This file is 560 x 420 pixel x 200 frames = 47 megapixels. So I added "For more detailed animation, See this video.". This video is four times slower than the gif image.―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 09:39, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

Glitch on BepiColombo: work ongoing to restore spacecraft to full thrust

Are there any news about this issue? Will the fourth Mercury flyby take place as planned? I couldn't find anything new in the ESA webpage but, for sure, it is clear now what will happen in 3 weeks... 88.3.211.218 (talk) 16:45, 22 August 2024 (UTC)

mpo science budget is 85 kg - mmo science budget is 40 kg

BTD12: BepiColombo – Unlocking Mercury's Mysteries (youtube) mpo science budget is 85 kg source link at 13:28 mmo science budget is 40 kg source link at 13:38 ~2026-36391-8 (talk) 19:24, 17 January 2026 (UTC)

Links for future reference

For interested readers or myself, if and when I get around to expanding this page:

• https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/bepicolombo/home
• Mission overview and science goals: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-021-00861-4
  • Grard, 1997, The Mercury Orbiter mission
  • Chemical and solar electric propulsion options for a cornerstone mission to mercury
• Messages on MIO: https://mio.isas.jaxa.jp/en/message/
• Papers list: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/public-libraries/zdyhVl2KTumcxoYtDNQIyw
• Recent updates on operations (conference abstracts only):
  • https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/EGU26-19883.html
  • https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/EGU26-16269.html
  • BepiColombo's Journey to Mercury: Lessons from Cruise Operations and Plans for Orbital Science (2025) and also the related articles
• BepiColombo at Mercury: Three Flybys, Three Magnetospheres
• This paper has a brilliant (and frankly hilarious) illustration of the 4 spacecraft components and how they fit together: Italian Spring Accelerometer measurements of unexpected Non Gravitational Perturbation during BepiColombo second Venus swing-by. The arXiv preprint is under CC BY 4.0.
• Mercury Surface Element
• Mercury: The View after MESSENGER
• Missions to Mercury

ToadalChaos (talk) 15:23, 16 June 2026 (UTC)

Rearranging references

I plan to work on this article in coming months; the spacecraft will arrive at the end of this year and so this article will presumably get added attention.

My first step will be to rearrange inline citations to the list-defined references format using User:PleaseStand/References_segregator. If anyone is watching this page and disagrees, let me know here :) ToadalChaos (talk) 14:57, 17 June 2026 (UTC)

Pinging top 10 editors of the page. @Animalculum @BatteryIncluded @Huntster @Rowan Forest @Ricnun @CRS-20 @Duncan.Hull @Renerpho @Jarrod Baniqued @Pippo skaio @Artem.G

I already made the change, but have since realised most probably didn't see this post. Let me know if you disagree and we can revert. —ToadalChaos (talk) 08:29, 7 July 2026 (UTC)

You have my full blessing. Jarrod Baniqued (he/him) (talk) 08:33, 7 July 2026 (UTC)

Oh, and one more note: I haven't finished renaming all the references, so many have auto-generated names. I will finish renaming them if/when consensus is cleared up here to keep the change. —ToadalChaos (talk) 08:40, 7 July 2026 (UTC)