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BepiColombo begins final approach to Mercury after eight-year, 10-billion-kilometer journey

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ESA’s BepiColombo mission has entered its arrival phase at Mercury, separating its transfer module from two scientific orbiters after an eight-year, 10-billion-kilometer voyage. The spacecraft now faces a high-risk final approach before beginning orbital operations to study one of the least-explored planets in the inner solar system.

Discovered 2026-09-03T07:32:59.030856-07:00 | 2026-09-03T07:32:59.030856-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • BepiColombo’s separation marks the transition from an eight-year cruise to the mission’s most critical phase: final approach and orbital insertion at Mercury.
  • The two orbiters will investigate one of the least-explored planets in the inner solar system, generating scientific data from a destination that requires an unusually complex arrival sequence.

Reported By

CNA Space.com faz.net astrospace.it orlandosentinel.com Associated Press
Sources Tracked
8
First Seen
2026-09-03T07:32:59.030856-07:00
Latest Update
2026-09-03T14:35:19.523241-07:00
Coverage
Space

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