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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

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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
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