![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2016\/06\/bepicolombo_mercury_magnetosphere_orbiter\/16033537-1-eng-GB\/BepiColombo_Mercury_Magnetosphere_Orbiter_small.jpg\")
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\nThe shining face of the Mercury Magnetosphere Orbiter, Japan\u2019s contribution to the BepiColombo<\/a> mission to the Solar System\u2019s innermost planet.\n<\/p>\n \nThe octagonal spacecraft is seen here at ESA\u2019s test centre in the Netherlands, where it is being tested alongside the other elements of this dual-spacecraft mission.\n<\/p>\n \nDuring cruise, it will sit above ESA\u2019s Mercury Planetary Orbiter at the top of the BepiColombo stack<\/a>, to be launched in April 2018. The Mercury Transfer Module will deliver them to Mercury using highly efficient electric propulsion<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nWhile ESA\u2019s craft will go into a 480 x 1500 km mapping orbit around Mercury, Japan\u2019s will enter a highly elliptical 590 x 11 640 km orbit to study the planet\u2019s environment and its magnetic field.\n<\/p>\n \nThe two spacecraft employ differing strategies to cope with the temperatures in excess of 350\u00b0C involved in operating around the closest world to the Sun. Japan\u2019s octagonal orbiter will spin 15 times per minute to distribute heat evenly across its surface. But since it cannot spin during BepiColombo\u2019s seven-year journey from Earth, it will be protected within the Magnetospheric Orbiter Sunshield.\n<\/p>\n \nESA\u2019s orbiter<\/a>, meanwhile, will maintain a steady attitude, covered with high-temperature insulation with a deep space-facing radiator behind protective louvres that will dump waste heat into space. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nThe shining face of the Mercury Magnetosphere Orbiter, Japan’s contribution to the BepiColombo<\/a> mission to the Solar System’s innermost planet.\n<\/p>\n \nThe octagonal spacecraft is seen here at ESA’s test centre in the Netherlands, where it is being tested alongside the other elements of this dual-spacecraft mission.\n<\/p>\n \nDuring cruise, it will sit above ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter at the top of the BepiColombo stack<\/a>, to be launched in April 2018. The Mercury Transfer Module will deliver them to Mercury using highly efficient electric propulsion<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nWhile ESA’s craft will go into a 480 x 1500 km mapping orbit around Mercury, Japan’s will enter a highly elliptical 590 x 11 640 km orbit to study the planet’s environment and its magnetic field.\n<\/p>\n \nThe two spacecraft employ differing strategies to cope with the temperatures in excess of 350°C involved in operating around the closest world to the Sun. Japan’s octagonal orbiter will spin 15 times per minute to distribute heat evenly across its surface. But since it cannot spin during BepiColombo’s seven-year journey from Earth, it will be protected within the Magnetospheric Orbiter Sunshield.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n