Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wzw2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-26T07:57:55.987Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The BepiColombo Lander – MSE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2016

Nicolas Thomas ,
Rita Schulz  and
Peter Falkner
Nicolas Thomas
Affiliation:
Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, Sidlerstr. 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Rita Schulz
Affiliation:
Research and Scientific Support Department, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Peter Falkner
Affiliation:
Science Payload and Advanced Concepts Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission to the planet, Mercury, is planned for launch in 2012. A lander called the MSE (Mercury Surface Element) has been proposed for the mission. To be compatible with all the constraints for a soft-landing on Mercury, the payload must be highly miniaturized. Although the requirements are challenging, significant study, design, and bread-board work has been performed which suggests that excellent science can be accomplished within a total payload mass of around 7 kg. The MSE would provide a substantial increase in our knowledge of the Hermean surface after that which can be obtained from orbital remote sensing.

Type
I. Joint Discussions
Information
Highlights of Astronomy , Volume 13 , 2005 , pp. 79 - 82
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Pacific 2005

References

Schulz, R., Falkner, P., Peacock, A., Erd, C., Rando, N., & Kraft, S. 2003, This volume, JD2.Google Scholar
Smith, P.H. et al. 1997, The Imager for Mars Pathfinder experiment, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 4003.Google Scholar