After 8 years, Europe’s BepiColombo mission is on final approach to Mercury - Ars Technica

“The European Space Agency’s BepiColombo spacecraft, a joint venture with Japan’s JAXA, is now on its final approach to Mercury after an eight‑year journey. The mission will deliver unprecedented data on Mercury’s magnetic field, surface composition, and exosphere, filling gaps that have long challenged planetary scientists. For the United States, the mission’s findings could inform NASA’s own Mercury studies, enhance space‑weather forecasting, and spur commercial opportunities in data analytics and high‑performance computing. Expert Analysis: The successful arrival of BepiColombo underscores the value of international collaboration in deep‑space exploration, offering U.S. firms a chance to partner on data‑driven technologies and to position themselves ahead of future missions to the inner planets.”