What is wrong with Mercury?Rdiger JehnEuropean Space Operations
Centre/ European Space Agency
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 1 HSO-GFA- Mission
Analysis Section
Mercury still is a challenge! Diameter: 4880 km (38 % of the
Earth, 140 % of the Moon) Distance to Sun: 46 - 70 million km (0.39
AU)
Images courtesy of NASA
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 2 HSO-GFA- Mission
Analysis Section
Early Deceptions1881-1889 Giovanni SchiaparelliRotation rate: 88
days
1896-1897 Percival Lowell
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 3 HSO-GFA- Mission
Analysis Section
From Das unendliche Weltall Grundlagen der Astronomie
(1966):
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 4 HSO-GFA- Mission
Analysis Section
The truth
1965 Arecibo radio telescope
Rotation rate:58.65 days !
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Analysis Section
Sunrise on Mercury
click to start the Sun rise on Mercury
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Analysis Section
Pear shape of Mercury: J3
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Analysis Section
Spy at AGU Dec 2011 in San Francisco
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 8 HSO-GFA- Mission
Analysis Section
Mercury: Solid or Liquid Core?
Radar observations presented in July 2004 in ParisLibration
Amplitude: 60 arcsec
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 9 HSO-GFA- Mission
Analysis Section
Libration of MercuryPublication in Science, Vol 316, 4 May
2007:
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Mission Analysis Section
High Density
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Mission Analysis Section
High Density1. Crust: 100300 km thick 2. Mantle: 600 km thick 3.
Core: 1,800 km radius
3 Theories for Mercurys Origin:
1. Selective Accretion (SA) 2. Post-accretion Vaporisation (V)
3. Giant Impact (GI)R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page
12 HSO-GFA- Mission Analysis Section
Way aheadBepiColombo Launch: 16 August 2015 Arrival at Mercury:
27 Jan 2022 500 kg Xenon for ionpropulsion MMO (Jaxa): 400 x 12000
km MPO (ESA): 400 x 1500 kmR. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 |
Page 13 HSO-GFA- Mission Analysis Section
BepiColombo
Challenges to explore Mercury 7 flybys Spacecraft often behind
the Sun Ion-propulsion unit Solar arrays get too hot Thermal
protection against 11 Suns
R. Jehn | ESA/ESOC | 14 September 2012 | Page 14 ESA
UNCLASSIFIED -- For Official Use
HSO-GFA- Mission Analysis Section
