Key Takeaways
- BepiColombo is approaching Mercury after an eight-year journey, with key milestones set for December 2026.
- A competition invites the public to welcome the probes by creating artistic entries, with a chance to win a visit to mission control.
- Entries must be submitted by October 25, 2026, and include a public social media post with the hashtag #WelcomeToMercury.
BepiColombo’s Journey to Mercury
The BepiColombo mission, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is nearing its destination after an extensive eight-year journey. This mission includes three spacecraft: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), known as Bepi, the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio), and the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM). Together, they have navigated a challenging route, comprising nine planetary flybys, including encounters with Earth, Venus, and Mercury itself.
Entering Mercury’s orbit poses significant challenges. As of September 3, the MTM successfully released the MPO and Mio, marking a crucial phase in the mission. The next critical dates include November 21, 2026, when the two orbiters will be captured by Mercury’s gravity, followed by their separation on December 9-10, 2026. This separation will officially signify BepiColombo’s arrival at Mercury. By March 19, 2027, both orbiters will settle into their designated science orbits, initiating their research missions.
To celebrate this milestone, ESA is hosting a competition inviting participants to express their welcome to Bepi and Mio creatively. Submissions can take the form of drawings, songs, poems, or other art forms, which can be presented through photos or videos. The competition runs until October 25, 2026. The grand prize includes a trip to ESA’s Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, for the event on December 9, where participants can witness the historic moment of separation and engage with the mission team.
To enter, participants must post their artistic creations on a social media platform using the hashtag #WelcomeToMercury and explain what the mission means to them. A public link to the post must be submitted via the official entry form.
The competition is open to individuals over 18 from ESA Member, Cooperating, and Associate States, excluding ESA employees and their families. Only one entry per person is allowed, and all participants must ensure compliance with social media platform rules and privacy notices.
Winners will be announced in the second week of November, with one overall winner and up to nine runners-up receiving gifts from ESA. The first-place winner will be responsible for their travel arrangements but will be reimbursed up to €1,000 post-event upon submission of receipts.
Details regarding travel arrangements and event specifics, along with the latest updates on the mission’s timeline, can be found on ESA’s official BepiColombo webpage. Flexibility in travel plans is encouraged due to the dynamic nature of space-related events.
As the countdown continues to BepiColombo’s arrival at Mercury, public participation and enthusiasm are welcomed through this competition, allowing everyone to be part of this significant milestone in space exploration.
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