The BepiColombo spacecraft will flyby Mercury at a closer distance of 165 km due to adjustments made after thruster malfunction, impacting its scheduled arrival in 2026.
Engineers identified unexpected electrical currents between the spacecraft's solar array and its power extracting unit, leading to diminished power for propulsion.
Due to the underperformance of the Solar Electric Propulsion system, trajectory changes became necessary, causing a shift in BepiColombo's expected arrival time at Mercury.
The planned trajectory adjustments allow for a closer flyby, reducing propulsion needs, while still maintaining a series of planned Mercury flybys.
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