The BepiColombo mission, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is set to make its fourth flyby of Mercury on September 4, 2024, coming within 165 kilometers of the planet's surface.

Due to a recent issue with the Mercury Transfer Module's thrusters, BepiColombo's trajectory has been altered, bringing it 35 kilometers closer to Mercury than initially planned.

This adjustment follows a discovery in April that the spacecraft's thrusters were not receiving enough power, prompting engineers to restore them to only 90% of their original thrust.

As a result of the thruster issues, the expected arrival date at Mercury has been pushed to November 2026.

Despite the delay, ESA confirmed that the mission's scientific objectives will remain intact, with ten of BepiColombo's 16 instruments set to be operational during the flyby.

This flyby will not only reduce the spacecraft's speed and alter its trajectory but will also facilitate the capture of images and calibration of scientific instruments.

While the main camera will not operate during the flyby, three engineering cameras will capture images, including the first views of Mercury's south pole.

BepiColombo Project Scientist Johannes Benkhoff expressed excitement about the scientific opportunities during the flybys, emphasizing the chance to explore previously uncharted areas of Mercury.

The first images from the flyby are expected to reveal significant geological features on Mercury and will be released publicly on September 5, 2024.

This flyby marks the first time BepiColombo will pass over Mercury's poles, providing new data that will enhance trajectory adjustments.

BepiColombo's journey includes a total of nine gravity assist maneuvers, comprising one around Earth, two around Venus, and six around Mercury.

The mission carries 16 scientific instruments on two orbiters, developed collaboratively by ESA and JAXA, aimed at enhancing our understanding of Mercury's composition and history.