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Back Mercury cornerstone system and technology study

Mercury cornerstone system and technology study

19 October 1998

A system and technology study has been conducted by the European industrial consortium of Alenia (Italy) and Dornier (Germany) and a review of the first phase of this study took place on 15 October at ESTEC.

The concept which emerged out of this first approach is a spacecraft complex consisting of a main module on a relatively low orbit for remote sensing (imager, and UV, IR, X-ray, Y-ray and neutron spectrometers) and radioscience; a subsatellite for magnetosphere investigation (particles and fields); and a possible lander.

This system would be transported from Earth to Mercury on a jettisonable cruiser powered by electric propulsion also taking advantage of gravitational assistance.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
18-Apr-2026 07:49 UT

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