The BepiColombo Space Mission is a joint venture between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), designed to explore Mercury, the smallest and least-explored planet in the Solar System. Despite being one of Earth's closest planetary neighbors, Mercury remains largely enigmatic due to its harsh environment, extreme temperatures, and proximity to the Sun, which make direct exploration highly challenging. Launched on October 20, 2018, BepiColombo aims to uncover Mercury's geological history, magnetic field, exosphere, and internal structure, providing unprecedented insights into the planet's evolution.

Launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre, BepiColombo is a complex journey spanning seven gravity-assist flybys, including encounters with Earth, Venus, and Mercury before reaching its destination in December 2025. This advanced mission consists of two primary orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), developed by ESA, and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), also known as Mio, developed by JAXA. These complementary spacecrafts will conduct an in-depth study of Mercury's surface, magnetic field, thin exosphere, and deep interior, shedding light on its geological evolution and the broader processes governing terrestrial planet formation. By cutting-edge scientific instrumentation and an innovative solar-electric propulsion system, BepiColombo aims to address fundamental questions about Mercury’s enigmatic magnetic field, its highly dense metallic core, and the presence of volatile elements on its surface. The data collected will not only enhance our understanding of Mercury but also offer crucial insights into planetary evolution within our Solar System and beyond.

Mission Objectives

The BepiColombo Space Mission is designed to address fundamental scientific questions about Mercury’s origin, evolution, and its role in shaping our understanding of planetary formation. By employing a suite of advanced instruments aboard its two orbiters, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio), the mission seeks to provide high-resolution data that will refine existing theories about the planet and the broader Solar System. The key objectives of the mission include:

1. Understanding Mercury's Surface Composition and Geological History

Mercury's surface is scarred by ancient impact craters, vast plains, and tectonic features, hinting at a complex geological past. BepiColombo will:

• Map the mineralogical and chemical composition of Mercury's crust to identify the elements and compounds present.
• Analyze surface features to determine how volcanic activity, tectonic shifts, and space weathering have shaped the planet.
• Investigate hollows and pyroclastic deposits, which may provide clues about volatile elements and Mercury’s thermal evolution.
• Provide high-resolution imaging to enhance our understanding of the planet’s unique high-density structure and contracting crust.

2. Studying Mercury's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere

Mercury is the only terrestrial planet besides Earth that possesses a global magnetic field, yet its origin and properties remain poorly understood. BepiColombo will:

• Examine the strength, structure, and variation of Mercury’s magnetic field to determine how it is generated.
• Analyze interactions between the solar wind and Mercury’s magnetosphere, which create intense space weathering effects.
• Compare Mercury’s magnetosphere to Earth’s, providing valuable data on planetary magnetic field evolution.

3. Investigating the Thin Exosphere and Its Interactions with Solar Winds

Unlike Earth, Mercury has a tenuous exosphere rather than a thick atmosphere. This thin layer is primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, sodium, potassium, and calcium, originating from the solar wind, surface interactions, and micrometeoroid impacts. BepiColombo aims to:

• Study the composition and dynamics of the exosphere and how it is influenced by the Sun’s radiation.
• Monitor the processes by which Mercury’s exosphere is replenished and stripped away.
• Examine the role of surface sputtering, photon-stimulated desorption, and impact vaporization in shaping the exosphere.

4. Exploring Mercury's Internal Structure and Core

Mercury has an unusually large metallic core, making up over 80% of its total volume, but its structure and state (solid vs. liquid) remain unclear. BepiColombo will:

• Measure the size, composition, and state of Mercury’s core using gravity and altimetry data.
• Investigate the mantle-core boundary to understand planetary differentiation processes.
• Determine whether Mercury’s core is partially liquid and how this affects its magnetic dynamo.
• Study the planet’s gravitational field variations, which provide insights into its internal mass distribution.

5. Providing Comparative Data to Understand Planetary Formation in the Solar System

Mercury’s extreme environment and unique composition make it a crucial test case for planetary formation models. By studying Mercury, BepiColombo will:

• Help refine theories about terrestrial planet formation and evolution.
• Provide insights into how proximity to the Sun influences planetary development.
• Compare Mercury’s properties with those of Venus, Earth, and Mars, helping to establish a broader framework for understanding exoplanetary systems.

By addressing these objectives, BepiColombo will revolutionize our knowledge of Mercury and contributes significantly to planetary science, space physics, and astrophysics, shaping our understanding of planets in our Solar System and beyond.

Spacecraft Design

The BepiColombo Space Mission is composed of a modular spacecraft architecture, consisting of three key components that work together to enable a successful journey, orbital insertion, and scientific data collection at Mercury. Each module has been designed to withstand extreme thermal conditions near the Sun while carrying out its respective scientific and operational tasks. The primary components are:

1. Mercury Transfer Module (MTM)

• Developed by: European Space Agency (ESA)
• Function: Provides propulsion and navigational support for the spacecraft during its interplanetary journey to Mercury.

The Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) is responsible for carrying the BepiColombo spacecraft stack across a 7-year trajectory that includes multiple gravity-assist maneuvers at Earth, Venus, and Mercury before final orbital insertion in December 2025. Key features include:

• Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP): Equipped with four ion thrusters (T6 gridded ion thrusters developed by QinetiQ), which provide efficient, low-thrust propulsion necessary for the prolonged cruise phase.
• Solar Power Generation: Two 30-meter-long solar arrays, generating up to 11 kW of power, which adjust their angles to optimize energy absorption while minimizing overheating.
• Navigation & Course Corrections: Utilizes reaction wheels and chemical thrusters for precise trajectory adjustments.
• Thermal Protection: Designed to withstand intense solar radiation as the spacecraft moves closer to the Sun.

Once BepiColombo reaches Mercury’s orbit, the MTM will detach and be discarded, leaving the scientific orbiters (MPO and Mio) to conduct their respective missions.

2. Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO)

• Developed by: European Space Agency (ESA)
• Function: Conducts detailed studies of Mercury’s surface, internal structure, and geophysical properties from orbit.

The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) is designed to operate in a polar orbit (480 × 1500 km) around Mercury, enabling continuous high-resolution mapping and geophysical studies. Notable design features include:

Scientific Instruments: Carries 11 instruments, including:

• High-resolution cameras for imaging the surface in multiple wavelengths.
• Infrared, X-ray, and ultraviolet spectrometers for mineralogical and elemental analysis.
• Laser altimeter to measure surface topography and detect geological changes.
• Radiometers to study Mercury’s thermal properties and heat emission.
• Gravity and radio science experiments to probe the planet’s internal structure and core dynamics.

Thermal Control System: Equipped with a highly efficient heat radiator and multi-layer insulation to regulate temperatures in the extreme +430°C (day) to -180°C (night) temperature swings.

• Communication: Features a high-gain antenna for data transmission to Earth, capable of sending large volumes of scientific data.
• Operation: Once in orbit, the MPO will remain fixed (not spinning) to ensure continuous, stable observations of Mercury’s surface.

3. Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO)

• Developed by: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
• Function: Studies Mercury’s magnetosphere, solar wind interactions, and space environment.

The Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), also known as Mio, is designed to analyze the complex interactions between Mercury’s magnetic field and the solar wind. Unlike MPO, Mio follows a highly elliptical orbit (590 × 11,640 km) around Mercury, allowing it to study the dynamic behaviour of charged particles, plasma waves, and magnetic reconnection events.

Key features include:

Scientific Payload: Equipped with five dedicated instruments, including:

• Magnetometers (MGF) for analyzing Mercury’s intrinsic magnetic field.
• Plasma particle detectors (MPPE) to study charged particles in the magnetosphere.
• Wave and electric field sensors (PWI) to detect plasma waves and electromagnetic interactions.
• Ultra-stable oscillator (USO) for precise radio wave experiments.
• Dust monitors to analyze micrometeoroid impacts.

Spinning Design: Unlike MPO, Mio spins at 15 RPM to provide thermal stability and a 360-degree field of view for its instruments.

Shielding & Thermal Protection: Features a titanium and ceramic sunshield to endure Mercury’s extreme temperatures.

Data Transmission: Mio will relay its data to Earth via the MPO’s communication system, as it lacks a direct high-gain antenna.

Scientific Instruments Aboard BepiColombo

BepiColombo is equipped with 16 cutting-edge scientific instruments across its two primary orbiters: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio/MMO). These instruments are designed to perform high-resolution mapping, atmospheric analysis, plasma interactions, and gravity field measurements, providing an unprecedented level of detail about Mercury’s geology, magnetosphere, and internal structure.

Scientific Payload of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO)

The MPO, developed by ESA, is dedicated to studying Mercury’s surface, internal structure, and geophysics. It carries 11 advanced instruments, each designed for a specific aspect of planetary research.

1. BELA (BepiColombo Laser Altimeter)

• Objective: Maps Mercury’s surface topography with extreme precision.
• Functionality:  It uses laser pulses to measure elevation changes across the planet. It detects craters, ridges, and tectonic features, contributing to geological history analysis. It helps to determine Mercury’s crustal thickness by correlating data with gravity field measurements.

2. MERTIS (Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer)

• Objective: Analyzes surface mineralogy and temperature variations.
• Functionality: It identifies surface composition by detecting infrared radiation emitted from different minerals. It monitors thermal emissions, helping understand heat retention and dissipation on Mercury’s surface. It provides insights into the presence of silicate materials and potential volatile compounds.

3. MIXS (Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer)

• Objective: Studies Mercury’s X-ray emissions to determine surface composition.
• Functionality: It detects X-ray fluorescence caused by solar radiation interacting with Mercury’s crust. It identifies key elements such as magnesium, aluminum, and silicon, refining our understanding of Mercury’s crustal evolution. It works in conjunction with other instruments to map chemical variations across the planet.

4. SYMBIO-SYS (Spectrometers and Imagers for MPO)

• Objective: Captures high-resolution images of Mercury’s surface.
• Functionality: It combines a high-resolution images, stereo camera, and hyperspectral imager to provide detailed surface analysis. It detects impact craters, volcanic features, and tectonic formations to reconstruct Mercury’s geological history. It assesses surface albedo (reflectivity) to determine space weathering effects.

5. MORE (Mercury Orbiter Radio Science Experiment)

• Objective: Measures Mercury’s gravity field and investigates its internal structure.
• Functionality: It uses Doppler tracking to measure small variations in Mercury’s gravitational field. It provides insights into the size and state (liquid or solid) of Mercury’s core. It contributes to relativity experiments, refining Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity by studying how Mercury’s orbit is affected by the Sun’s gravity.

6. SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances)

• Objective: Analyzes Mercury’s exosphere composition and interactions with the solar wind.
• Functionality: It studies how solar radiation and micrometeoroid impacts release gases from Mercury’s surface. It helps understand volatile transport and surface-exosphere interactions.

7. ISA (Italian Spring Accelerometer)

• Objective: Measures tiny accelerations acting on the spacecraft to refine gravity field models.
• Functionality: It assesses Mercury’s tidal deformations, helping determine core size and density variations. It works with MORE to enhance gravitational field mapping.

8. SIXS (Solar Intensity X-ray and Particle Spectrometer)

• Objective: Monitors solar X-rays and energetic particles that influence Mercury’s environment.
• Functionality: It works alongside MIXS to analyze how the Sun's radiation affects Mercury’s surface and atmosphere. It provides data on solar flares and space weather events.

9. MGNS (Mercury Gamma-ray and Neutron Spectrometer)

• Objective: Detects gamma-ray and neutron emissions to analyze Mercury’s elemental composition.
• Functionality: It identifies subsurface elements like hydrogen, iron, and potassium. It helps assess potential water ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters.

Scientific Payload of the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio/MMO)

The Mio spacecraft, developed by JAXA, is focused on Mercury’s magnetosphere and its interactions with the solar wind. It carries five key instruments designed to study the planet’s magnetic field, charged particle environment, and plasma interactions.

1. MPPE (Mercury Plasma Particle Experiment)

• Objective: Studies charged particles in Mercury’s magnetosphere.
• Functionality: It measures electrons, protons, and heavy ions originating from the solar wind. It detects particle acceleration processes within the magnetosphere. It investigates how Mercury’s magnetic field interacts with solar plasma.

2. PWI (Plasma Wave Investigation)

• Objective: Analyzes electromagnetic waves and space plasma near Mercury.
• Functionality: It detects plasma waves and electric/magnetic field fluctuations caused by the solar wind. It helps understand how Mercury’s magnetosphere deflects or absorbs incoming charged particles. It monitors solar storms and space weather effects on Mercury.

3. MSASI (Mercury Sodium Atmosphere Spectral Imager)

• Objective: Observes Mercury’s tenuous exosphere, particularly sodium emissions.
• Functionality: It uses a narrow-band spectral imager to study how sodium atoms are released from Mercury’s surface. It determines how solar radiation influences Mercury’s exosphere dynamics. It helps model exospheric variations over time.

4. MGF (Magnetometer)

• Objective: Measures Mercury’s magnetic field structure and variations.
• Functionality: It detects field fluctuations and helps map Mercury’s internal and external magnetic sources. It works alongside MPPE and PWI to provide a complete picture of Mercury’s magnetosphere dynamics.

5. DBI (Dust Monitor)

• Objective: Detects and analyzes micrometeoroid impacts on the spacecraft.
• Functionality: It measures dust particle size and velocity to study space dust distribution near Mercury. It helps understand how micrometeoroid impacts contribute to exosphere formation.

Mission Timeline: A Journey to Mercury

The BepiColombo mission is a complex, multi-phase interplanetary expedition that spans over a decade, from its launch in 2018 to its scientific operations at Mercury in the late 2020s. The mission is divided into two main phases: the Launch and Cruise Phase (2018–2025) and the Orbital Insertion and Science Phase (2026–2028, with potential extensions).

Launch and Cruise Phase (2018–2025)

The BepiColombo spacecraft was launched on October 20, 2018, aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. This marked the beginning of its long and challenging journey to Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. Unlike conventional direct planetary transfers, BepiColombo employs a complex series of gravity assist maneuvers to gradually slow down and adjust its trajectory for Mercury capture. Since Mercury orbits so close to the Sun, a direct approach would result in excessive speed, making orbital insertion nearly impossible. To counteract this, BepiColombo relies on a carefully planned sequence of nine planetary flybys before reaching its destination. These gravity assists serve to reduce the spacecraft's velocity relative to Mercury while conserving fuel.

April 10, 2020 – Earth Flyby: BepiColombo conducted its first gravity assist maneuver by passing within 12,700 km of Earth, using our planet’s gravity to adjust its trajectory towards Venus. This flyby also provided an opportunity to test the spacecraft's instruments and cameras.

October 15, 2020 – First Venus Flyby: The spacecraft passed 10,720 km from Venus, leveraging the planet’s gravitational pull to further alter its orbit. During this encounter, scientific instruments collected valuable data on Venus’s thick atmosphere and magnetosphere, offering insights into the extreme greenhouse conditions of our neighboring planet.

August 10, 2021 – Second Venus Flyby: A much closer approach at just 552 km from Venus provided another significant trajectory adjustment. BepiColombo’s onboard sensors captured data on Venus’s atmosphere and plasma environment, supplementing previous missions like ESA’s Venus Express and JAXA’s Akatsuki. After leaving Venus, the spacecraft continued towards Mercury, initiating a series of six close flybys of Mercury between 2021 and 2025. These flybys are critical for further reducing BepiColombo’s velocity, ensuring a smooth orbital insertion upon arrival.

First Mercury Flyby – October 1, 2021: BepiColombo made its first close pass at Mercury, flying 199 km above the surface. This provided the first glimpses of Mercury’s rugged terrain and a preliminary test of its instruments in Mercury’s harsh thermal environment.

Subsequent Mercury Flybys (2022–2025): The spacecraft is executing a total of six Mercury flybys, each bringing it closer to final orbital insertion. These encounters progressively fine-tune its approach velocity, while also allowing the onboard instruments to gather preliminary data on Mercury’s magnetic field and exosphere.

December 5, 2025 – Mercury Arrival and Orbital Insertion: After nearly seven years of interplanetary travel, BepiColombo will finally arrive at Mercury. Upon approach, the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) will complete its mission, and the two scientific orbiters, MPO and Mio (MMO), will prepare for their respective orbital insertions.

Orbital Insertion and Science Phase (2026–2028 and beyond)

Once in Mercury’s vicinity, BepiColombo will undergo a critical orbital insertion sequence. The MTM (Mercury Transfer Module), responsible for propulsion during the cruise phase, will be discarded, leaving only the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio/MMO) to conduct their scientific mission.

• MPO Orbital Insertion: The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), developed by ESA, will enter a polar orbit around Mercury at an altitude of 480 km x 1500 km. This orbit is optimized for high-resolution imaging, surface mapping, and internal structure analysis.
• Mio (MMO) Orbital Insertion: The Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio), developed by JAXA, will be placed in a highly elliptical orbit (~590 km x 11,640 km) around Mercury. This configuration is ideal for studying Mercury’s magnetosphere, allowing Mio to observe how the planet interacts with the solar wind. With both orbiters in place, the science phase will commence. This is expected to last at least one Earth year (until 2028), but a mission extension is highly probable, depending on spacecraft health and fuel reserves.

During the primary science phase, BepiColombo will:

•  Conduct detailed surface imaging to uncover Mercury’s geological history.
•  Map Mercury’s chemical composition using X-ray, gamma-ray, and infrared spectrometry.
• Study Mercury’s magnetic field and its interactions with solar wind particles.
•  Investigate the planet’s exosphere, looking for sodium, hydrogen, and other elements.
•  Perform gravity and radio science experiments to refine models of Mercury’s interior structure and core state.

If the spacecraft remains operational beyond 2028, ESA and JAXA may extend its mission to continue gathering crucial data on Mercury’s long-term evolution, its magnetic activity, and the effects of space weathering on planetary surfaces.

Challenges of Mercury Exploration

Exploring Mercury, the innermost planet of the Solar System, presents a unique set of challenges that make it one of the most difficult planets to study. Compared to other missions to Mars or the outer planets, Mercury’s extreme environment, proximity to the Sun, and complex orbital dynamics require sophisticated engineering solutions to ensure spacecraft survival and successful data collection.

1. Extreme Temperatures: A Planet of Fire and Ice: One of the most significant challenges in exploring Mercury is its drastic temperature variations. As the closest planet to the Sun, its dayside experiences scorching temperatures of up to 430°C (806°F), hot enough to melt lead. Meanwhile, due to the lack of a substantial atmosphere to retain heat, the night side can drop to an astonishing -180°C (-292°F). This extreme contrast poses severe thermal management challenges for any spacecraft operating in orbit around Mercury. To mitigate this, BepiColombo’s orbiters are equipped with advanced heat-resistant materials, high-reflectivity coatings, and multi-layered insulation. The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), for instance, features a highly reflective white ceramic thermal blanket, like materials used on space shuttles, to protect it from intense solar radiation. The Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio), on the other hand, uses a spinning motion (15 RPM) to evenly distribute heat across its surface, preventing localized overheating.

2. Proximity to the Sun: Intense Radiation and Thermal Stress: Mercury’s location, just 57.9 million km (36 million miles) from the Sun, exposes spacecraft to high levels of solar radiation and extreme thermal conditions. The Sun appears up to 11 times brighter from Mercury than it does from Earth, meaning that any spacecraft in orbit must withstand continuous exposure to intense solar radiation and solar wind particles. To counteract these harsh conditions, BepiColombo’s electronic components are shielded from radiation, and its solar panels are designed with special heat-resistant coatings. The spacecraft must also carefully manage its orientation to ensure that instruments and onboard systems do not overheat. Additionally, the MPO’s heat radiators are strategically positioned away from the Sun, dissipating excess heat while maintaining operational temperatures for its instruments.

3. Orbital Mechanics: Navigating Mercury’s Complex Gravity Field: Mercury’s proximity to the Sun introduces complex gravitational interactions that make reaching and orbiting the planet a highly challenging task. Unlike Mars or Venus, which can be reached with relatively straightforward interplanetary transfers, a direct approach to Mercury would result in the spacecraft gaining too much velocity, making orbital capture extremely difficult. To overcome this, BepiColombo relies on multiple gravity assist flybys, one of the most intricate planetary navigation techniques ever used. The mission employs a sequence of nine flybys (one of Earth, two of Venus, and six of Mercury itself) before arriving at its final orbit in December 2025. These carefully timed maneuvers allow the spacecraft to gradually shed excess velocity, enabling a controlled insertion into Mercury’s orbit. Additionally, Mercury’s gravitational field is highly irregular, with mass concentrations (mascons) beneath its crust causing unexpected variations in gravitational pull. These mascons can influence a spacecraft’s orbit, requiring continuous course corrections and precise navigation to maintain a stable observational trajectory. BepiColombo’s onboard navigation system is equipped with advanced sensors and thrusters to account for these perturbations, ensuring mission stability.

Significance of BepiColombo to Advance Mercury Exploration

1. First Dual-Orbiter Mission to Mercury

BepiColombo is the first mission to send two orbiters to simultaneously study Mercury. This innovative approach allows scientists to study the planet’s surface, interior, and magnetosphere at the same time, providing a more comprehensive understanding than previous single-orbiter missions.

2. Complementing NASA’s MESSENGER Mission (2004–2015)

NASA’s MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) mission provided groundbreaking insights into Mercury’s surface composition, magnetic field, and exosphere. However, MESSENGER operated in a highly elliptical orbit, limiting detailed surface observations. BepiColombo’s instruments will refine and expand upon MESSENGER’s findings, offering higher-resolution imaging, improved gravity measurements, and more detailed analysis of the planet’s geology and magnetosphere.

3. Understanding Planetary Formation and Exoplanetary Systems

Mercury’s unique metal-rich composition and thin exosphere provide critical clues about the early formation of rocky planets in the Solar System and beyond. By studying Mercury’s geological history, magnetic properties, and internal structure, BepiColombo will help scientists refine models of planetary formation and evolution. Additionally, the study of Mercury’s extreme environment is valuable for understanding exoplanets orbiting close to their parent stars, particularly those classified as hot terrestrial planets. Insights gained from BepiColombo’s observations could help astronomers better interpret data from exoplanetary systems, improving our knowledge of planetary habitability and atmospheric evolution.

The BepiColombo Space Mission stands as a remarkable milestone in planetary exploration, representing the combined efforts of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to uncover the secrets of Mercury, the least-explored terrestrial planet in our Solar System. Compared to previous missions, BepiColombo brings unprecedented scientific capabilities, with dual orbiters that will simultaneously investigate the planet’s geology, magnetosphere, exosphere, and interior composition. Its findings will reshape our understanding of Mercury’s evolution, shedding light on the processes that have shaped the innermost planet and, by extension, the broader mechanisms governing planetary formation. The mission’s ambitious journey, spanning seven years and multiple gravity-assist flybys, highlights the complexity of reaching Mercury. By using solar electric propulsion and precisely calculated orbital maneuvers, BepiColombo showcases the advanced engineering and navigational expertise required to explore extreme planetary environments. Once in orbit, its set of 16 advanced scientific instruments will deliver high-resolution imaging, detailed spectrometry, and comprehensive magnetospheric analysis, building upon the foundational data provided by NASA’s MESSENGER mission.

Beyond Mercury, BepiColombo’s discoveries will have implications in planetary science. Understanding Mercury’s core structure, tectonic activity, and exosphere dynamics will provide crucial insights into the formation of rocky planets both within our Solar System and in exoplanetary systems. The mission’s findings will also help refine models of planetary differentiation, magnetosphere interactions with the solar wind, and the evolution of atmospheres under extreme solar radiation, knowledge that can be applied to studying exoplanets orbiting close to their host stars. BepiColombo illustrates the power of international collaboration in space exploration. The combined expertise of ESA and JAXA, along with contributions from multiple scientific institutions worldwide, demonstrates how global partnerships can push the boundaries of scientific discovery. The data collected by the mission will be freely shared with the scientific community, supporting further research and innovation in planetary science, space engineering, and comparative planetology. As BepiColombo approaches its destination in December 2025, anticipation grows for the breakthroughs it will deliver. By overcoming formidable technical and environmental challenges, this mission sets a precedent for future deep-space explorations.