European Space Agency

June 2026 — One of the most ambitious planetary exploration missions ever launched has reached a major milestone. After spending eight years traveling across the inner Solar System, the BepiColombo spacecraft has switched off its ion propulsion engines and begun the final stage of its long-awaited journey to Mercury. The achievement marks the beginning of the mission’s critical approach phase, bringing the international spacecraft closer than ever to its destination. Developed through a partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), BepiColombo is expected to transform scientific understanding of the Solar System’s smallest and innermost planet. A Journey Spanning Billions of Kilometers Reaching Mercury is considered one of the most difficult challenges in planetary exploration. Although the planet is relatively close to Earth on a cosmic scale, spacecraft must overcome the immense gravitational influence of the Sun and carefully adjust their trajectories to slow down enough for orbital insertion. Since its launch in 2018, BepiColombo has traveled through the inner Solar System using a combination of gravity-assist flybys and advanced ion propulsion technology. During its voyage, the spacecraft performed multiple encounters with Earth, Venus, and Mercury itself to gradually reshape its orbit and reduce speed. These complex maneuvers allowed mission controllers to guide the spacecraft toward Mercury while minimizing fuel consumption. The Role of Ion Propulsion A defining feature of the mission has been its use of ion engines, an advanced propulsion system that generates thrust by accelerating electrically charged particles. Unlike conventional rocket engines, ion propulsion produces a small but continuous force over extended periods. This technology enabled BepiColombo to conduct one of the longest and most sophisticated propulsion campaigns ever attempted in deep space. Now that the ion engines have been switched off, mission planners consider a major phase of the spacecraft’s interplanetary journey complete. The mission will rely on carefully calculated orbital operations as it prepares for its final arrival procedures. Preparing for Mercury Orbit The next few months will be among the most important in the mission's history. Beginning in September, engineers and scientists will initiate a series of key operations designed to place the spacecraft into orbit around Mercury. These maneuvers require extraordinary precision. Mercury's proximity to the Sun creates an extreme environment characterized by intense heat, strong solar radiation, and significant gravitational challenges. Successfully entering orbit will represent the culmination of years of planning, engineering, and international cooperation. Unlocking the Mysteries of Mercury Despite being one of the Solar System’s nearest planets, Mercury remains one of its least explored worlds. Scientists hope BepiColombo will provide unprecedented insights into the planet’s origin, structure, magnetic field, surface composition, and geological evolution. Researchers are particularly interested in understanding why Mercury possesses an unusually large metallic core and how it managed to retain a magnetic field despite its small size. The mission will also investigate the interaction between the planet and the solar wind, helping scientists better understand the processes shaping planetary environments throughout the Solar System. International Cooperation in Space Exploration BepiColombo stands as a powerful example of international scientific collaboration. The mission combines the expertise of ESA, JAXA, research institutions, engineers, and scientists from numerous countries. Such partnerships have become increasingly important as space missions grow more technologically complex and scientifically ambitious. By sharing resources, knowledge, and expertise, international agencies can pursue projects that would be difficult for any single organization to accomplish alone. The mission's success thus far highlights the value of global cooperation in advancing humanity’s understanding of the universe. A New Chapter Begins As BepiColombo approaches the final stages of its journey, anticipation is growing among the global scientific community. The spacecraft has already overcome enormous technical and navigational challenges, but its most important work is still ahead. If all planned operations proceed successfully, the mission will soon begin delivering detailed observations from one of the most extreme and mysterious planets in the Solar System. After eight years of travel through deep space, BepiColombo is now on the threshold of a new chapter—one that could reshape our understanding of Mercury and provide valuable clues about the formation and evolution of rocky planets throughout the universe. For scientists and space enthusiasts alike, the countdown to Mercury has truly begun.

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