The BepiColombo Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) has returned its first image from space.
The view looks down one of the extended solar arrays, which was deployed earlier this morning and confirmed by telemetry. The structure in the bottom left corner is one of the sun sensors on the MTM, with the multi-layered insulation clearly visible.
The transfer module is equipped with three monitoring cameras, which provide black-and-white snapshots in 1024 x 1024 pixel resolution. The location and field of view of ‘M-CAM 1’, which captured the first image, is indicated in this graphic.
The other two cameras will be activated tomorrow and are expected to capture images of the deployed medium- and high-gain antennas onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO). Click here to see example fields of views.
The monitoring cameras will be used on various occasions during the cruise phase, notably during the flybys of Earth, Venus and Mercury. While the MPO is equipped with a high-resolution scientific camera, this can only be operated after separating from the MTM upon arrival at Mercury in late 2025 because, like several of the 11 instrument suites, it is located on the side of the spacecraft fixed to the MTM during cruise.
BepiColombo launched at 01:45 GMT on 20 October on an Ariane 5. BepiColombo is a joint endeavour between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA. It is the first European mission to Mercury, the smallest and least explored planet in the inner Solar System, and the first to send two spacecraft to make complementary measurements of the planet and its dynamic environment at the same time.
Credits: ESA/BepiColombo/MTM – CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Tags: ESA European Space Agency Space Universe Cosmos Space Science Science Space Technology Tech Technology BepiColombo Bepi MPO MTM Mercury Solar System JAXA Aerospace 宇宙航空研究開発機構 ISAS MMO 水星探査計画BepiColombo 水星磁気圏探査機MMO 水星探査 solar array selfie
The BepiColombo Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) has returned its first image from space. The view looks along one of the extended solar arrays, which was deployed earlier this morning and confirmed by telemetry. The structure in the bottom left corner is one of the sun sensors on the MTM, with the multi-layered insulation clearly visible.
The transfer module is equipped with three monitoring cameras, which provide black-and-white snapshots in 1024 x 1024 pixel resolution. The other two cameras will be activated tomorrow and are expected to capture images of the deployed medium- and high-gain antennas onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO).
The monitoring cameras will be used on various occasions during the cruise phase, notably during the flybys of Earth, Venus and Mercury. While the MPO is equipped with a high-resolution scientific camera, this can only be operated after separating from the MTM upon arrival at Mercury in late 2025 because, like several of the 11 instrument suites, it is located on the side of the spacecraft fixed to the MTM during cruise.
BepiColombo launched at 01:45 GMT on 20 October on an Ariane 5. BepiColombo is a joint endeavour between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA. It is the first European mission to Mercury, the smallest and least explored planet in the inner Solar System, and the first to send two spacecraft to make complementary measurements of the planet and its dynamic environment at the same time.
More about the monitoring cameras.
Credits: ESA/BepiColombo/MTM – CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Tags: ESA European Space Agency Space Universe Cosmos Space Science Science Space Technology Tech Technology BepiColombo Bepi MPO MTM Mercury Solar System JAXA Aerospace 宇宙航空研究開発機構 ISAS MMO 水星探査計画BepiColombo 水星磁気圏探査機MMO 水星探査 solar array selfie
The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury lifts off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou.
Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique video du CSG – JM Guillon
Tags: 2018 Septembre ELA3 CSG Guyane ZL3 Ariane 5 ECA Campagne lancement VA245 Décollage KOUROU FRANCE ESA European Space Agency Space Universe Cosmos Space Science Science Space Technology Tech Technology BepiColombo Bepi MPO MTM Mercury Solar System JAXA Aerospace 宇宙航空研究開発機構 ISAS MMO 水星探査計画BepiColombo 水星磁気圏探査機MMO 水星探査 Ariane 5 Launcher Rocket Liftoff Take off Launch
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The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury lifts off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou.
Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja
Tags: ESA European Space Agency Space Universe Cosmos Space Science Science Space Technology Tech Technology BepiColombo Bepi MPO MTM Mercury Solar System JAXA Aerospace 宇宙航空研究開発機構 ISAS MMO 水星探査計画BepiColombo 水星磁気圏探査機MMO 水星探査 Ariane 5 Launcher Rocket Liftoff Take off Launch
© All Rights Reserved
The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury lifts off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou.
Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja
Tags: ESA European Space Agency Space Universe Cosmos Space Science Science Space Technology Tech Technology BepiColombo Bepi MPO MTM Mercury Solar System JAXA Aerospace 宇宙航空研究開発機構 ISAS MMO 水星探査計画BepiColombo 水星磁気圏探査機MMO 水星探査 Ariane 5 Launcher Rocket Liftoff Take off Launch
© All Rights Reserved