European probe captures stunning up-close views of planet Mercury during brief flyby

On Monday (June 19), Europe’s BepiColombo probe, en route to Mercury, conducted its third close flyby of the target planet, unveiling a surface adorned with craters, one of which has been officially named.

Launched in 2018 as a joint European/Japanese mission, BepiColombo is currently in the final stages of its seven-year expedition through the inner solar system, Space reported.

To achieve its objective, the spacecraft relies on gravitational assistance from Earth, Venus, and ultimately Mercury to decelerate enough to transition from the sun’s orbit to that of Mercury by late 2025.

READ MORE: https://www.space.com/bepicolombo-mercury-flyby-photos-june-2023

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