Separation after launch

Please note this image was updated in April 2018.

Artist’s impression of the upper stage and payload launch adapter separating from the BepiColombo spacecraft stack about 30 minutes after launch. In this view, the Mercury Transfer Module is at the left, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter is in the middle, and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter is hidden inside the sunshield visible at far right. At this stage, the solar wings of the spacecraft remain closed.

BepiColombo is a joint endeavour between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA.