BEPICOLOMBO (43653)

COSPAR: 2018-080A | Alt Name: BepiColombo MPO

DECAYED

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

October 20, 2018

Launch Site

FRGUI

Launch Pad

ELA3

Launch Vehicle

Ariane 5ECA

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

43653

International Designator

2018-080A

Decay Date

Unknown

Basic Satellite Info

Name

BEPICOLOMBO

Alternative Name

BepiColombo MPO

Type

Payload

Status

Operational

Owner

ESA

Country

European Space Agency

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Summary

BEPICOLOMBO, also known as BepiColombo MPO, is a Mercury orbiter satellite launched by ESA on October 20, 2018, from the Guiana Space Center using an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 1.7 meters in length and 3.9 meters in diameter with a span of 6 meters. It weighs 1838 kilograms at launch and 1169 kilograms dry. BEPICOLOMBO is equipped with two deployable solar arrays for power generation during cruise and one deployable array along with batteries for the orbiter phase. The satellite's mission duration was planned to last approximately one year, and its primary purpose is to conduct observations of Mercury as part of a planetary orbiter mission. Manufactured by ADSUK, BEPICOLOMBO features a unique shape consisting of a truncated pyramid with dishes and panels.

Physical Characteristics

Length

1.7

Diameter

3.9

Span

Dry Mass

1169

Launch Mass

1838

Shape

Trunc pyr+dish+1 pan

Radar Cross Section

Unknown

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Mercury Planetary Orbiter

Purpose

Mercury orbiter

Mission

Mercury orbiter

Manufacturer

ADSUK

Life Expectancy

+1 year

Bus

MPO

Configuration

Unknown

Motor

S400

Equipment

Unknown

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries (cruise stage), deployable solar array, batteries (orbier)

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

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