Mission Type: Orbiter Launch Vehicle: Ariane V MPO: 520 kg MMO:
250 kg 2) Spectrometers (IR, UV, X-ray, neutron) 4) Laser
altimeter 6) Particle analysers 7) Ka-band transponder 2) Ion
spectrometer 3) Electron energy analyser 4) Cold and energetic
plasma detectors 5) Plasma wave analyser Spacecraft Power: Solar
Panels MPO: 600 W MMO: 325 W MPO: 1.0 M MMO: 0.8 m Maximum Data
Rate: MPO: 50 kb/s MMO: 5 kb/s -European Space Agency's
BepiColombo Page,
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=30
-Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency BepiColombo Page,
http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/bepi/index_e.html -NSSDC Master
Catalog, http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/ BepiColombo, an ESA
mission in cooperation with Japan, will explore Mercury, the
planet closest to the Sun. Europe's space scientists have
identified the mission as one of the most challenging long-term
planetary projects, because Mercury's proximity to the Sun makes
it difficult for a spacecraft to reach and survive in the harsh
environment. The scienti