Physics
Scientific paper
Aug 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006iaujd..10e..22s&link_type=abstract
Progress in Planetary Exploration Missions, 26th meeting of the IAU, Joint Discussion 10, 21-22 August 2006, Prague, Czech Repub
Physics
Scientific paper
BepiColombo is the planetary mission of the European Space Agency's Cosmic Vision Programme. It is an interdisciplinary mission devoted to explore the planet Mercury and its environment in a partnership with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission consists of two scientific spacecraft, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). The MMO provided by JAXA, focuses on investigating Mercury's magnetosphere, while the MPO is dedicated to the characterization of the planet and its exosphere. The launch is foreseen for August 2013, whereby both spacecraft will be launched together on a single Soyuz-Fregat. Solar electric propulsion will be used for the journey to Mercury. After arrival at the planet in August 2019 the MPO and MMO will be injected into dedicated polar orbits that have been optimized for their scientific tasks. With its 11 instruments /instrument packages the MPO will focus on a global characterization of Mercury through the investigation of its interior, surface and exosphere. In addition, it will be testing Einstein's theory of general relativity. The MMO payload consists of 5 instruments/instrument packages investigating the wave and particle environment of the planet. Together, the scientific payload of both spacecraft will provide the detailed information necessary to understand the process of planetary formation and evolution in the hottest part of the proto-planetary nebula as well as the similarities and differences between the magnetospheres of Mercury and Earth.
Benkhoff Johann
Schulz Robert
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