JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

	MIO is a space probe designed to observe the magnetosphere and space environment of Mercury. It will study the planet, along with another Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) developed by Europe, as part of an international mission to Mercury known as BepiColombo that is being operated as a joint project between Japan and Europe. Mercury, being the closest planet to the sun, has an extremely harsh environment that has previously prevented a comprehensive study of the planet being made. In order to withstand such an environment, MIO was built with various measures to enhance heat dissipation. It was launched in October 2018, and is scheduled to do a total of nine planetary swing-by maneuvers before going into orbit around Mercury in November 2026 . Once in orbit, the probe will observe Mercury’s magnetic fields and plasma environments among others, to take us closer to understanding the magnetosphere near the sun and the process of how planets like the Earth are formed. Latest Information

MIO is a space probe designed to observe the magnetosphere and space environment of Mercury. It will study the planet, along with another Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) developed by Europe, as part of an international mission to Mercury known as BepiColombo that is being operated as a joint project between Japan and Europe. Mercury, being the closest planet to the sun, has an extremely harsh environment that has previously prevented a comprehensive study of the planet being made. In order to withstand such an environment, MIO was built with various measures to enhance heat dissipation. It was launched in October 2018, and is scheduled to do a total of nine planetary swing-by maneuvers before going into orbit around Mercury in November 2026 . Once in orbit, the probe will observe Mercury’s magnetic fields and plasma environments among others, to take us closer to understanding the magnetosphere near the sun and the process of how planets like the Earth are formed.

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Observation mission by BepiColombo

This project consists of two orbiters. Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) will observe the surface and interior; Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) will observe the magnetic field and the magnetosphere. JAXA is responsible for MMO, as Japan excels in the study of magnetic fields and magnetospheres. ESA is responsible for the launcher, the interplanetary cruising engine, the placement of BepiColombo into Mercury’s orbit, and the development of MPO.
MMO and MPO will be launched by the Ariane 5 launch vehicle at the same time, then separate when they arrive at the orbit of Mercury, and observe Mercury for about 1 year under collaboration.

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Oct. 20, 2018 Updated

MIO En Route to Mercury

	BepiColombo mission successfully took off at 10:45:28 am, October 20, in Japan Time, 2018. From the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, the ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA's MIO, Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter were launched aboard the Ariane 5 rocket at 10:45:28 pm in local time, 2018. The launch and flight went well – 26 minutes and 47 seconds into launch, as planned, both orbiters were deployed. BepiColombo has entered its 7-year long voyage to Mercury. It places MPO and MIO ... More to read Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter MIO / BepiColombo Launch Results Mercury Magnetosphere Orbiter (MMO) /BepiColombo (ISAS)

BepiColombo mission successfully took off at 10:45:28 am, October 20, in Japan Time, 2018. From the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, the ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA's MIO, Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter were launched aboard the Ariane 5 rocket at 10:45:28 pm in local time, 2018. The launch and flight went well – 26 minutes and 47 seconds into launch, as planned, both orbiters were deployed. BepiColombo has entered its 7-year long voyage to Mercury. It places MPO and MIO ...