The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has completed six close flybys of Mercury over eight years, collecting vital data on one of the least explored planets in the Solar System, according to mission updates. These passes help address fundamental planetary mysteries, including icy craters near the poles, the planet’s magnetic field, and enigmatic surface features known as hollows.
How BepiColombo’s Fourth Mercury Flyby Replicates Earth’s Solar Storms
During BepiColombo’s fourth pass of Mercury on September 4, 2024, the spacecraft swooped within just 165 kilometers (102.5 miles) of the surface, according to mission scientists. Emilia K. J. Kilpua, a professor of space physics at the University of Helsinki and lead author of the study, noted that these close-range conditions mirror what happens on Earth when a powerful solar storm compresses our own planet’s magnetosphere.
Engineers and technicians at the University of Helsinki developed the SIXS instrument carried by the spacecraft. Kilpua serves as the Principal Investigator for the instrument. The data gathered during these approaches offer a setting to study how extreme space weather interacts with planetary magnetic shields.
Protecting Satellite Infrastructure from Extreme Space Weather
Insights from the BepiColombo flybys could help inform predictions of space weather and its potential impact on Earth, according to the research team. Major solar events are known to cause damage to satellites, electrical grids, and other space- and ground-based infrastructure. Rami Vainio, co-Principal Investigator of SIXS and a professor of space physics at the University of Turku, emphasized the practical value of these observations.
Did you know? Solar storms can compress a planet’s magnetosphere.
Observations from the SIXS instrument will be used in the Center of Excellence in Space Resilience. This dedicated program works to ensure that commercial and scientific operations in Low Earth Orbit remain safe under the most extreme space weather conditions.
Upcoming Milestones for the Twin Orbiters
Earlier this month, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter separated from their transfer module, according to mission schedules. The two scientific spacecraft will enter Mercury’s orbit in November before separating from each other by December to begin their independent science campaigns.
Pro Tip: Researchers tracking space weather resilience can monitor telemetry updates from international planetary missions through official space agency portals like the European Space Agency and JAXA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of the BepiColombo mission?
BepiColombo is a joint ESA and JAXA mission designed to study Mercury’s surface, exosphere, and magnetic field in unprecedented detail across multiple planned orbits.
How close did BepiColombo get to Mercury during its fourth flyby?
The spacecraft approached within 165 kilometers (102.5 miles) of Mercury’s surface on September 4, 2024, according to mission data.
Why do Mercury flybys help study Earth’s space weather?
According to researchers at the University of Helsinki, the intense solar wind compression experienced near Mercury mimics the effects of powerful solar storms on Earth’s magnetosphere.
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