BepiColombo images fly straight into archive

The images captured by BepiColombo’s monitoring camera during the Venus flyby on 15 October are already available in the Planetary Science Archive, the central repository for all scientific data returned by ESA's Solar System missions.

While data generated by the main science instruments on all missions are typically subject to a proprietary period of several months, the BepiColombo monitoring camera team have committed to turning their data around in just ten days or less. This is one of the fastest data releases into the archive.

There are three monitoring cameras – also known as M-CAMs or ‘selfie cams’ – onboard the Mercury Transfer Module of the BepiColombo mission. The cameras provide black-and-white snapshots in 1024 x 1024 pixel resolution. The main science camera that will provide high resolution imagery is part of the Mercury Planetary Orbiter’s suite of eleven science instruments, and will only be active once arriving in Mercury orbit in 2025.

The almost real-time release of M-CAM images via ESA’s public web platform and social media channels will continue around key mission events, enabling the public to ride along with the mission and see what the spacecraft is seeing as it journeys to Mercury.

Access the M-CAM image archive here.

If you create a gif, mosaic or other creative product with the images, do share it with our @bepicolombo twitter account!

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