BepiColombo Will Reach Mercury in November 2026
The joint mission aims to characterize the planet's core and magnetosphere after a decade-long transit.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Space
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The BepiColombo spacecraft, a joint project of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, will arrive at Mercury in November 2026. This arrival comes 11 months later than originally scheduled following mission adjustments to compensate for a 2024 power reduction issue.
Why it matters
The mission seeks to study Mercury's unique composition, including a massive core that spans 85% of its radius and a magnetic field only 1% the strength of Earth's. Understanding these traits will offer insight into planetary formation near our sun.
The spacecraft utilized an ion engine, which generates thrust 15 times more efficiently than standard chemical rocket engines. Engineers successfully modified the trajectory to maintain orbit insertion after facing a significant power reduction in 2024.
The players
European Space Agency
An intergovernmental space research organization responsible for developing satellite-based planetary exploration technology.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The national space agency of Japan focused on aerospace research and deep-space mission development.
The details
The mission utilizes two orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. These craft will investigate why Mercury's core represents 85% of its radius and explore how the planet rotates in a 3:2 resonance with the sun. The spacecraft recently jettisoned the Mercury Transfer Module, which used electrical fields to accelerate ions for propulsion during the long transit from Earth.
Timeline
1973-1975: NASA's Mariner 10 mission visited Mercury.
October 2018: BepiColombo launched.
2024: A power reduction issue affected the spacecraft.
November 2026: The spacecraft will arrive at Mercury.
Early 2027: Science operations are scheduled to begin.
The Tech Race
This mission marks a major leap in planetary instrumentation following the preliminary data collected by NASA's Mariner 10. By entering a stable orbit, BepiColombo will provide a long-term look at Mercury's environment that past flyby missions could not achieve.
This mission relies on specialized autonomous hardware designed to withstand extreme solar radiation and daytime temperatures reaching 440 degrees Fahrenheit. The data captured will eventually update fundamental models of planetary geology and magnetic shielding for the scientific community.
The takeaway
The BepiColombo team has successfully navigated trajectory modifications to reach their target despite 2024 power constraints. Watch for the first high-resolution mapping of the planet's surface once science operations formally begin in 2027.
What happens next
Science operations for the mission are scheduled to commence in early 2027 following the primary arrival in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on upcoming planetary exploration, see our coverage of Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSMU Radio.
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