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
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
You can follow @esascience.
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