Thread by @esascience, Do you remember the @BepiColombo spacecraft? Yes, the one that was launched [...]

Do you remember the @BepiColombo spacecraft? Yes, the one that was launched in October 2018, destination: Mercury. On 10 April it's coming back to Earth for a quick visit to harness some of our planet's gravity & continue its journey #BepiColomboEarthFlyby
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo/ESA_to_conduct_BepiColombo_flyby_amid_coronavirus_crisis

Getting to Mercury is not easy! This is why #BepiColombo is coming back on 10 April for the 1st of 9 gravity-assist flybys – 2 more at Venus + 6 at Mercury – along the mission's 7-year long journey #BepiColomboEarthFlyby
Find out more about this manoeuvre: https://esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Why_is_BepiColombo_back

Why is #BepiColombo going to #Mercury, you ask? Because the smallest & innermost planet in our Solar System is full of mysteries!

Where did it form?

Is there really water?

Is it dead or alive?

Why is it so dark?

What about its magnetic field?

https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo/Top_Five_Mercury_mysteries_that_BepiColombo_will_solve

And even before #BepiColombo gets to #Mercury, scientists will test & calibrate their instruments during the flybys. Several are switched on and taking data around Earth, as shown in this infographic (sizes & distances not to scale!) #BepiColomboEarthFlyby
http://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/04/BepiColombo_s_first_and_only_Earth_flyby

So, where is #BepiColombo right now? Closing in on Earth, less than 200,000 km away. At 05:25 BST/06:25 CEST on 10 April, the spacecraft comes to closest approach: 12,700 km from our planet's surface. You can follow its journey here: https://bepicolombo.esac.esa.int/itl-viewer/where/
#BepiColomboEarthFlyby

A few hours ago, one of the selfie cameras on #BepiColombo – yes, the spacecraft carries 3 GoPro-style #selfie cameras – took some amazing snapshots of #Earth, our beautiful marble planet! And it will take more as it keeps closing in #BepiColomboEarthFlyby
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/04/BepiColombo_closing_in_on_Earth_ahead_of_flyby

So, if #BepiColombo sees Earth can we – on Earth – see it as it zips across the sky? Well, it depends on your location + you will need binoculars or a small telescope. If you manage to snap a photo, let us know – but stay safe! #BepiColomboEarthFlyBy
Info: https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo/Spot_BepiColombo_during_its_goodbye_flyby

For news on the flyby and more selfies with planet Earth, follow the accounts of the three mission components:

@ESA_Bepi

@JAXA_MMO

@ESA_MTM

Live updates also via @esaoperations

#BepiColomboEarthFlyby #StayTuned

More about this exciting mission:
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo

For news on the flyby and more selfies with planet Earth, follow the accounts of the three mission components: @ESA_Bepi @JAXA_MMO @ESA_MTMLive updates also via @esaoperations #BepiColomboEarthFlyby #StayTunedMore about this exciting mission: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo

After the flyby, at 17:00 CEST on 10 April, we will host a live chat on #ESAwebTV with mission experts from @ESA as well as #BepiColombo scientists from @JAXA_en @DLR_en @tuBraunschweig @WWU_Muenster @mediainaf
Join us at https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/ESA_Web_TV #BepiColomboEarthFlyby #StayTuned

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