Solar-Electric Propulsion System (image)

 

This image provides a close-up on the jets of ionised gas ejected by BepiColombo’s solar-electric propulsion (SEP) system.

In its cruise configuration, BepiColombo consists of: a transfer module, the Mercury Planetary Orbit (MPO), the sun shield and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO).

The transfer module is provided with both solar-electric propulsion and chemical propulsion units. The former will be used during the cruise to destination; the latter will be used to boost the initial launch orbit out to the Moon for a gravity assist manoeuvre.