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Airbus celebrates the successful launch of a satellite towards the planet Mercury.
The aerospace company led the construction of the space shuttle BepiColombo, which will help scientists study the planet closest to the sun and its environment.
Mercury has not been much exploration. NASA said that Mariner 10 was sent to the planet in 1973 as part of a flyby mission and that the Messenger spacecraft had been put into orbit by Mercury in 2011.
BepiColombo is expected to arrive on Mercury in 2025 after a journey of 8.5 billion kilometers and will allow scientists to study the environment of the planet with the 16 instruments onboard.
"This very complex mission is the result of truly inspiring international cooperation between 83 companies from 16 European countries and Japan," said Nicolas Chamussy, space systems manager at Airbus.
Hot Planet
The spacecraft is composed of two vehicles that will simultaneously observe the planet. It was launched from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.
Although it is the smallest planet in the solar system, Mercury is riddled with craters, suggesting a number of impacts due to the lack of a significant atmosphere, says Space.com.
However, temperatures fluctuate dramatically, rising from a high of 450 ° C to a low of -170 ° C at night, the largest temperature difference in the solar system.
Airbus had to ensure that BepiColombo, affectionately nicknamed "Bepi", was designed to withstand the harsh space environment.
"All major missions have challenges: Airbus needed to develop sophisticated thermal control solutions and even" special "solar panels, able to tilt at 75 degrees to keep the temperature down, the science we all expect. said Chamussy.
The space shuttle was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket which will enter solar orbit at 120,000 km / h.
In order to ensure that the probe will gravitate successfully around Mercury, a number of strategies have been used to slow it down.
The European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, has developed an electric propulsion system to curb the boat after 60 days only.
Workers examine Bepi's stack. (Airbus)
Final approach
Bepi will also perform nine planetary passes: one from Earth, two from Venus and six from Mercury.
Finally, xenon-propelled ion thrusters, powered by 14 mx 1.8 m solar panels, will be used to slow down the vehicle.
As Bepi approaches Mercury in orbit, its transfer module, which contains thrusters and charts, will be dropped and the orbiters will move into position.
The configuration of the Bepi stack is seen. (Airbus)
Bepi was built as part of a joint project of the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency.
The satellite was named in honor of Professor Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo, who was instrumental in the success of the Mariner 10 mission in the 1970s.
The cost of the mission is estimated at 1.65 billion euros (about 27.1 billion rand).
"This international effort, with Airbus teams from five different countries, is a natural consequence of humanity's desire to know more about this little-known planet and the origins of our solar system," said Chamussy. .
Bepi facts and figures
|
size |
6.4 meters |
|
Mass |
4 tons |
|
instruments |
16 |
|
Countries involved |
16 |
|
Companies involved |
83 |
|
Number of mission elements |
4 |
|
Arrival at Mercure |
2025 |
|
Distance to travel |
8.5 billion kilometers |
|
estimated cost |
1.65 billion euros |
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