BepiColombo switches off ion thrusters as it arrives at Mercury after eight-year journey
Summary
BepiColombo's solar electric propulsion (SEP) system was switched off for the last time on 15 June 2026, after powering the spacecraft's eight-year journey across the inner Solar System. This marks the end of the long cruise phase and the beginning of its arrival at Mercury.
Source
Twitter / XBepiColombo switches off ion thrusters as it arrives at Mercury after eight-year journeyesa.intKey quotes
· 3 pulledAt 15:24 CEST on 15 June 2026, a faint blue glow in space was switched off for the last time.
After powering BepiColombo's eight-year journey across the inner Solar System, the spacecraft's solar electric propulsion (SEP) system completed its final thrust arc.
[This] mark[s] the end of BepiColombo's long cruise phase and the beginning of its arrival at Mercury.
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