Mercury-Bound BepiColombo is About to Start Using the Most Powerful Ion Engines Ever Sent to Space

By Evan Gough December 7, 2018
Mercury-Bound BepiColombo is About to Start Using the Most Powerful Ion Engines Ever Sent to Space

"We put our trust in the thrusters and they have not let us down." - Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science.

“Electric propulsion technology is very novel and extremely delicate.” - Elsa Montagnon, Spacecraft Operations Manager for BepiColombo.

“To see the thrusters working for the first time in space was an exciting moment and a big relief." - Paolo Ferri, ESA’s Head of Operations.

Sources:

  • ESA Press Release: BepiColombo Now Firing On All Cylinders

  • ESA Science: Getting to Mercury

  • Wikipedia Entry: BepiColombo

  • ESA: BepiColombo Operations

  • QinetiQ Press Release: Pioneering QinetiQ Solar Electric Propulsion System (SEPS) to power ESA's BepiColombo mission to Mercury

  • The Conversation: Falcon Heavy: SpaceX stages an amazing launch – but what about the environmental impact?

  • Wikipedia Entry: Ion Thruster

    • Evan Gough

    Evan Gough

    Evan Gough is a science-loving guy with no formal education who loves Earth, forests, hiking, and heavy music. He's guided by Carl Sagan's quote: "Understanding is a kind of ecstasy."