The spacecraft is preparing to enter the planet's orbit in 2025, firing its thrusters against the Sun's powerful gravitational pull.
BepiColombo’s brief rendezvous with Mercury had to, unfortunately, come to an end, and the pair will not meet again until the spacecraft’s fourth gravity assist on September 5, 2024.In the meantime, the spacecraft has a tough challenge ahead as it gears up for its upcoming “thrust arcs” sequence in August. During a six-week period, BepiColombo will gradually fire up its electric propulsion system to brake against the powerful gravitational pull of the Sun.
“We are already working intensively on preparing for this long thruster arc, increasing communications and commanding opportunities between the spacecraft and ground stations, to ensure a fast turnaround between thruster outages during each sequence,” Santa Martinez Sanmartin, ESA’s BepiColombo mission manager, said in the statement.The Sun’s gravity is what makes Mercury so hard to reach, with BepiColombo being only the third spacecraft to travel to the solar system’s most inner planet.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
European probe captures stunning up-close views of planet Mercury during brief flyby (video, photos)The flyby took Europe's BepiColombo spacecraft within 150 miles (240 kilometers) of Mercury's surface.
Leer más »
Breanna Stewart pours in another historic performance in Liberty win over MercuryThe Liberty picked up their seventh victory.
Leer más »
Brittney Griner misses 2nd straight game for Mercury with hip injuryBrittney Griner sat on the bench in warmups for the second straight game, sidelined by a hip injury she suffered earlier this week.
Leer más »
Europe's BepiColombo spacecraft to zoom within 150 miles of Mercury in close flyby todayThe flyby will help the BepiColombo spacecraft reduce its speed so that it can enter Mercury's orbit in two and a half years.
Leer más »
'Hot Jupiter' planet killed and ate its Mercury-sized neighborA new analysis of the Jupiter-sized exoplanet WASP-76 b reveals that the world is carrying the remains of its long-lost neighbor in its atmosphere.
Leer más »
Brittney Griner misses 2nd straight game for Mercury with hip injuryBrittney Griner sat on the bench in warmups for the second straight game, sidelined by a hip injury she suffered earlier this week. brittneygriner kprc2 click2hou sports htx hounews
Leer más »