Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
and submit industrial proposals on which basis the mission as well as the
MPO design, and with this also the prime industrial contractor will be
selected. After the completion of this selection process, BepiColombo will
move into its implementation phase, starting late 2006.
2.3.
Payload
In November 2004, the ESA Science Program Committee has provisionally
approved the selection of the MPO scientific payload. It comprises 16 instru-
ments, which in several cases have been combined to instrument packages
sharing common subsystems and reflects the recommended MPO Reference
Payload.
With this payload complement we will be able to perform a global char-
acterization of Mercury. The MPO will concentrate on the investigation of
Mercury's interior, surface and exosphere, and support the MMO in the
detailed characterization of the magnetosphere and its relation to the exo-
sphere and the planet.
Figure 1 outlines the science topics addressed by the measurements of
the MPO payload. The two cameras will provide a global mapping of the
surface morphology with a spatial scale of 100 m and in addition image
Fig. 1. The topics addressed by the combined measurements of the selected MPO pay-
load complement.
