Win a visit to ESA to witness BepiColombo arrive at Mercury

The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has entered its Mercury arrival part, after cruising in the direction of the planet for the previous eight years. Stacked collectively, three area explorers, the European House Company’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO or cartoon character Bepi), the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Company’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) and their robotic good friend, the Mercury Switch Module (MTM), shared fairly the journey thus far. 

They needed to navigate a posh journey, together with 9 planetary flybys – one flight previous Earth, two previous Venus and 6 previous Mercury itself. As they method Mercury to remain, issues are getting much more thrilling. 

Arriving at Mercury

Getting into orbit round Mercury is not any simple feat. Earlier this month, the mission began performing a collection of essential steps that may convey the 2 orbiters, MPO and Mio, into their science orbits over the following few months: 

• On 3 September, MTM, which powered and steered BepiColombo for many of the journey, launched the 2 orbiters and bade them farewell.
• On 21 November, MPO and Mio, nonetheless joined collectively, will likely be captured by Mercury’s gravity.
• On 9–10 December, MPO and Mio will half methods. Mio can have entered its science operation orbit at this stage.
• On 19 March 2027, MPO may also attain its ultimate science orbit. 

The spacecraft separation on 9–10 December 2026 will formally mark BepiColombo’s arrival at Mercury. Coming to this point has been an unimaginable journey for the 2 area explorers, one value celebrating! 

• Share your creation on a social media channel of your selection utilizing the hashtag #WelcomeToMercury and clarify to your neighborhood what the BepiColombo mission means to you or what your favorite factor in regards to the mission is.
• Enter the URL to your social media publish (be sure your publish is public!) within the entry kind here in order that we will discover your entry and get in touch with you if you’re a winner 

Comply with us on Bluesky, LinkedIn and X to remain updated with the competitors outcomes. 

ENTRY FORM 

Competitors guidelines observe beneath the picture

Competitors guidelines

Please learn the total phrases and situations here and privateness discover right here. 

The individuals:

• The competitors is open to residents of ESA Member, Cooperating and Affiliate States (EXCEPT workers of ESA, its suppliers, its contractors and members of their quick households or households).
• You have to be over 18 to enter. Household/group entries are allowed however the individual posting the entry have to be over 18, and the highest prize is barely legitimate for adults over 18.

 The entries: 

• Entries are open from 15 September till midnight CET on 25 October 2026.
• One entry per individual.
• Entries ought to take the type of both a photograph or video of your creation, along with a short description of what you created.
• Solely adults over 18 might be in photographs/movies. Anybody within the picture/video will need to have given their consent.
• Entries ought to first be posted on a social media channel of your selection, with a hyperlink to the publish included within the competitors entry kind. Be certain your publish is public, in order that we will see your creation.
• So as to be thought-about for the prize you need to submit your entry by way of the shape, confirming your settlement with the privateness discover.
• Entries will likely be judged by the ESA BepiColombo Social Media working group, together with BepiColombo mission consultants and editors specialising in science communication. The panel’s choice is ultimate, and no correspondence shall be entered into to debate the ultimate winner.

 The prize:

• There will likely be one total winner and as much as 9 runners up.
• The winner and runners up will likely be chosen and knowledgeable within the second week of November 2026.
• The runners up will obtain a small present bag with ESA goodies. These will likely be shipped after the tip of the competitors interval.
• Prizes are non-negotiable. There is no such thing as a money or different various prize for both the runners up or total winner.

Additional particulars in regards to the competitors can be found in our Terms and Conditions, which all individuals should learn, along with the Privateness Discover. Along with the principles outlined right here, individuals additionally comply with abide by the phrases and situations of the social media channels wherein they enter. Please additionally examine ESA’s privateness discover for social media: https://www.esa.int/Providers/ESA_Privacy_Notice_ESA_social_media 

In case you have any questions, please ask us by way of Bluesky, LinkedIn or X. 

What to anticipate in case you win the highest prize: 

• You may be invited to affix an occasion in Darmstadt, Germany, and will likely be requested to verify your attendance as quickly as doable. The occasion will likely be hosted at ESA’s House Operations Centre (ESOC) on the evening of 9 December, beginning at 22:00 CET and operating till after midnight. You’ll obtain a devoted programme nearer the time.
• You’ll e-book your individual journey and lodging, and you can be refunded the fee as much as €1000 after the occasion (not on the day), upon presentation of journey and/or lodging reserving receipts. You may be requested to offer your checking account particulars to obtain the reimbursement.
• You’ll need a legitimate passport to enter the ESA institution.
• The Mercury arrival actions are anticipated to occur on 9 December, however area actions are dynamic and should change even on the final minute. We advocate making versatile journey preparations, as ESA can not settle for any legal responsibility for refunds. See esa.int/bepicolombo for the most recent updates.