Rotating the MPO

Date: 08 August 2011
Satellite: BepiColombo
Depicts: Mercury Planetary Orbiter STM
Location: Test Centre, ESTEC
Copyright: ESA
The overhead crane and special lifting adapter (top of image) turning the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter Structural and Thermal Model through 180° about its Y-axis. It is being mounted on the ground handing trolley via its -Z (top, in launch configuration) face, to enable technicians to access the +Z face for thermal hardware installation.
Last Update: 1 September 2019