Date: 16 Feb 2007
Satellite: BepiColombo
Depicts: Launch of BepiColombo, cut-away view
Copyright: EADS Astrium

Artist's impression of the launch of BepiColombo aboard a Soyuz/Fregat. Half of the fairing encapsulating the Mercury Composite Spacecraft (MCS) is left out in this view to reveal the launch configuration of the spacecraft.

From top to bottom the MCS comprises: the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) which is surrounded by a sunshield for the whole of the interplanetary cruise, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) with folded solar arrays.

Visible directly beneath the MTM are the round tanks of the fregat upper stage.