Johannes Benkhoff Biography

BepiColombo launches on an Ariane 5 to begin a multi-year journey toward Mercury.

BepiColombo performs an Earth gravity-assist flyby that adjusts its trajectory toward the inner Solar System.

BepiColombo completes its first Venus gravity assist while travelling toward Mercury.

BepiColombo makes a second Venus flyby to reduce its solar orbital energy before the first Mercury encounter.

BepiColombo completes its first Mercury flyby, beginning a sequence of six Mercury gravity assists before orbital arrival.

BepiColombo completes its second Mercury flyby as the mission continues refining its trajectory for eventual orbit insertion.

BepiColombo completes its third Mercury gravity-assist encounter and continues toward its planned orbital mission.

BepiColombo completes its fourth Mercury flyby, continuing the sequence required to slow the spacecraft for orbital capture.

BepiColombo completes its fifth Mercury flyby and passes the planet at a substantially higher altitude than earlier encounters.

BepiColombo completes its sixth and final planned Mercury gravity-assist flyby before the orbital phase.