The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Mercury is the least understood of all the inner rocky planets in our Solar System. However, knowing its evolution is crucial to understand the evolution of our entire Solar System. BepiColombo, Europe's first mission to Mercury, will be launched in 2018. Currently it undergoes final testing at ESA's Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. In between being moved from one test chamber to the next, the whole spacecraft stack will be presented on 6 July to the media: The European and the Japanese orbiters as well as the transfer module.
This is a replay of the media briefing presenting the mission, its background, technological challenges and current status.