The Yomiuri Shimbun The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) exhibited the nation’s first Mercury probe to the press on Sunday at its Sagamihara campus in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. JAXA aims to launch the explorer into space as early as next year.
Named “Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter” (MMO), the probe developed by JAXA will be used in “BepiColombo,” a Mercury exploration program jointly devised by Japan and the European Space Agency, JAXA officials said.
MMO is scheduled to arrive at Mercury in January 2024. The probe will be used to conduct observations on the planet’s atmosphere and other surveys during its mission, which will likely last one year to two years. The mission is aimed at unraveling mysteries surrounding Mercury, including its origin and inner structure. About 70 percent of the planet is believed to consist of iron and other metals.
MMO’s development budget stands at about ¥15.2 billion. The octagon-shaped probe measures 1.8 meters in width, and its lower half is completely covered with mirror plates to reflect strong sunlight. When conducting observations, MMO extends a bellow-type pillar and a 15-meter-long antenna from its body.
If all goes well, MMO will be launched in July next year along with another orbiter developed in Europe on a rocket that was also made in Europe. After arriving at Mercury, the two orbiters will separate and conduct different missions to survey the planet’s surface.
![isas_BepiColombo1B-e_s[1].jpg](https://defence.pk/attachments/isas_bepicolombo1b-e_s-1-jpg.204330/ "isas_BepiColombo1B-e_s[1].jpg")
JAXA rolls out nation’s 1st Mercury probe orbiter - The Japan News
Named “Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter” (MMO), the probe developed by JAXA will be used in “BepiColombo,” a Mercury exploration program jointly devised by Japan and the European Space Agency, JAXA officials said.
MMO is scheduled to arrive at Mercury in January 2024. The probe will be used to conduct observations on the planet’s atmosphere and other surveys during its mission, which will likely last one year to two years. The mission is aimed at unraveling mysteries surrounding Mercury, including its origin and inner structure. About 70 percent of the planet is believed to consist of iron and other metals.
MMO’s development budget stands at about ¥15.2 billion. The octagon-shaped probe measures 1.8 meters in width, and its lower half is completely covered with mirror plates to reflect strong sunlight. When conducting observations, MMO extends a bellow-type pillar and a 15-meter-long antenna from its body.
If all goes well, MMO will be launched in July next year along with another orbiter developed in Europe on a rocket that was also made in Europe. After arriving at Mercury, the two orbiters will separate and conduct different missions to survey the planet’s surface.
JAXA rolls out nation’s 1st Mercury probe orbiter - The Japan News
