1. MPO Scientific Aspects
BepiColombo – Mission to Mercury
MPO Scientific Aspects
&
System Update
Rita Schulz
Johannes Benkhoff

2. BepiColombo Elements

3. Mercury Planetary Orbiter Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter
MPO orbit optimized for study
of planet itself
MMO orbit optimized for study
of magnetosphere

4. Mercury Orbits MMO: 400 x 11,800 km 9.3 hours Direction of Sun
at perihelion
MPO:

5. Scientific Objectives
Origin of Mercury
Evolution of Mercury
MPO Instruments
(Selected by SPC; Nov. 2004)
&
Scientific Objectives
Nature of surface modifications on Mercury
Structure and variability of the magnetosphere of Mercury

6. BELA BepiColombo Laser Altimeter
CoPI’s: N. Thomas / T. Spohn
Science Goals
Figure of the Planet
Interior Structure and Composition of Mercury
Formation and Evolution of the Planet

7. MERCURY (RADIOMETER and) THERMAL INFRARED SPECTROMETER
MERTIS
MERCURY (RADIOMETER and) THERMAL INFRARED SPECTROMETER
PI: E.K. Jessberger
Science goals:
to study the surface composition of Mercury
to identify the key rock-forming minerals
to map the surface mineralogy
to measure surface temperature and thermal inertia

8. Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS)
PI: S. Dunkin
To produce global elemental maps of key rock-forming elements
To perform high spatial resolution mapping of these elemental abundances where solar conditions permit
To confirm that the auroral zone is an intense source of continuum and line X-rays

9. SIXS (Solar Intensity X-ray and particle Spectrometer)
PI: J. Houvelin
Scientific Objectives
accurate physical estimates of solar X-ray and particle irradiation at the surface of Mercury.
Data provided by SIXS are mandatory for a valid fluorescence analysis of MIXS spectra.

10. (ITALIAN SPRING ACCELEROMETER)
ISA
(ITALIAN SPRING ACCELEROMETER)
PI: V. Iafolla
AN ACCELEROMETER TO MEASURE THE INERTIAL ACCELERATIONS ACTING ON THE MPO
the global gravity field of Mercury and its temporal variations
the local gravity anomalies
the rotation state of Mercury
the orbit of the Mercury center–of–mass around the Sun

11. MERMAG Magnetic Field Investigation PI: A. Balogh
The primary objective
to provide magnetic field measurements that will lead to the detailed description of Mercury’s planetary magnetic field, and thereby constrain models of the evolution and current state of the planetary interior.
The secondary objective
to contribute to the study of the interaction of the solar wind with the Hermean magnetic field and the planet itself, the formation and dynamics of the magnetosphere as well as to the processes that control the interaction of the magnetosphere with the planet.

12. PHEBUS: A FUV-EUV Spectrometer
PI: E. Chassefiere
1) Vertical/ geographic/ seasonal mapping of already detected elements (H, He, O, Na, K, Ca).
2) Search for still non-detected compounds (Si, Mg, Al, Fe, S, C, N, OH, H2), and vertical/ geographic/ seasonal mapping.
3) Search for noble gases other than He (Ne, Ar, Xe, Kr) and mapping/ monitoring if possible.
4) Search for ion species (He+, Na+, O+, Mg+, Al+, Ca+, C+, N+, S+, …) and mapping/ monitoring if possible.
5) Measurement of surface reflectance at nm in polar craters in order to search for surface ice layers.

13. PI: E. Flamini SIMBIO-SYS
Spectrometer and Imagers for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem
SIMBIO-SYS
SIMBIO-SYS package:
It incorporates capabilities to perform:
medium space resolution global mapping in stereo and colour imaging using two pan-chromatic and 3 broad-band filters Stereo Channel STC;
high spatial resolution imaging in a pan-chromatic and 3 broad-band filters High Resolution Imaging Channel HRIC;
imaging spectroscopy in the spectral range 400  2000 nm Visible Infrared Hyperspectral Imager VIHI
PI: E. Flamini
Classification of Mercury surface features
Mercury surface composition

14. SIMBIO-SYS Science Surface geology: stratigraphy, geomorphology
Volcanism: lava plain emplacement, volcanoes identification
Global tectonics: structural geology, mechanical properties of lithosphere
Surface age: crater population and morphometry, degradation processes
Surface composition: maturity and crustal differentiation, weathering, rock forming minerals abundance determination
Geophysics: libration measurements, internal planet dynamics

15. PI: L. Iess MORE Mercury Orbiter Radio-science Experiment
Scientific Objectives
Determine the gravity field of Mercury
Determine the size and physical state of its core
Provide crucial experimental constraints to models of Mercury’s internal structure
Test theories of gravity
Measure the gravitational oblateness of the Sun
Test and characterize the most advanced interplanetary tracking system ever built
Assess the performances of the novel tracking system in precise orbit determination and space navigation. 

16. SERENA Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances PI: S. Orsini
Units:
ELENA: Emitted Low-Energy Neutral Atoms
STROFIO: Start from a ROtating FIeld spectrOmeter
MIPA: Miniature Ion Precipitation Analyser
PICAM: Planetary Ion CAMera

17. Mercury Gamma-ray and Neutron Spectrometer
MGNS
PI: I.G.Mitrofanov
Scientific goals:
to determine the elemental compositions by the measurements of nuclear lines of major soil-composing elements
to determine the elemental compositions by the measurements of the leakage flux of neutrons and of the lines of natural radioactive elements
to determine the regional distribution of volatile depositions on the polar areas of Mercury which are permanently shadowed from the Sun, and to provide a map of column density of this depositions

18. MGNS Backup: MANGA Mercury composition Analysis by Neutron and Gamma-ray spectoscopy PI: C. d'Uston

19. MPO Payload Selection by SPC (Nov. 2004)
BELA Laser Altimeter N. Thomas / T. Spohn
ISA Radio Science V. Iafolla Accelerometer
MERMAG Magnetometer A. Balogh
MERTIS IR Spectrometer E.K. Jessberger  
MGNS or Gamma Ray and I. Mitrofanov
MANGA Neutron Spectrometer C. d'Uston
MIXS / X-ray Spectrometer S. Dunkin SIXS Solar Monitor J. Houvelin
MORE Radio Science L. Iess Ka-band Transponder
PHEBUS UV Spectrometer E. Chassefiere  
SERENA Neutral Particle Analyser/ S. Orsini (Elena, MIPA, Ion Spectrometers PICAM, Strofio)
SIMBIO-SYS High Res.+ Stereo Cameras E. Flamini (HIRC, STC, VIHI) visual and NIR Spectrometer

20. MPO Science Topics Instruments plus MMO Payload Surface Interior
Morphology
High Resolution Colour Camera
Stereo Camera
Vis-Near-IR Mapping Spectrom.
TIR Map. Spectrom/Radiometer
X-ray Spectrom/Solar Monitor
γ-Ray Neutron Spectrometer
Ultraviolet Spectrometer
Neutral & Ion Particle Analyser
Laser Altimeter
Radio Science Experiment
Magnetometer
Surface
Topography
Composition
Temperature
State of Core
Core/Mantle
Interior
Composition
Magnetic Field
Composition
Dynamics
Exosphere
Surface Release
Left panel is the sensitivity and antenna length of Geotail, Phobos-2, and Nozomi plasma wave instruments.
Through the long wire antennas, we can survey the plasma space around the Mars in the finest level. 
Right panel is the spectra observed by Nozomi around the Earth, if wire antennas were extended.
PWA can catch all the important waves we expect.
Source/Sink Balance
Structure, dynamics
plus MMO Payload
Magnetosphere
Composition
Interactions