BepiColombo Passes Final Major Test: Separates Transfer Module, Heading for Mercury Orbit
The joint ESA and JAXA mission completed the separation of the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) on September 3, 2026, over 200 million kilometers from Earth. With this autonomous maneuver, BepiColombo is ready for its orbital insertion on November 21, when it will begin unraveling the mysteries of the planet closest to the Sun.