BepiColombo science orbiters stacked together
September 05, 2018
The two science orbiters of the joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission are connected in their launch configuration and the European science orbiter and transport module have been given the go-ahead to be loaded with propellants.
The mission completed its Qualification Acceptance Review in the last week, which confirms it is on track for its 19 October launch. The three-spacecraft mission is currently scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5 at 03:45 CEST (01:45 GMT) on 19 October, or 22:45 local time in Kourou on 18 October, with the launch window remaining open until 29 November.
Please visit the ESA website for more details.
"MIO" (MMO) [top] and MPO [bottom] being arranged in their launch configuration at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou. Credit: ESA-B.Guillaume）
"MIO" (MMO) [top] and MPO [middle] being arranged in their launch configuration together with the MTM [bottom] in a so-called 'fit-check'. Credit: ESA-B.Guillaume