BepiColombo exploded view

Exploded view of the BepiColombo spacecraft components. Throughout the mission's eight-year journey to Mercury, these components are stacked on top of each other. 

From top to bottom: JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio), Mio's Sunshield and Interface Structure (MOSIF), ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), and the ESA-built Mercury Transfer Module (MTM). The spacecraft are shown with solar arrays and instruments deployed.

All spacecraft components will separate from one another leading up to arrival at Mercury. This happens in stages, from September to December 2026. MPO and Mio will enter separate orbits around Mercury, making BepiColombo the first two-spacecraft mission at the little planet.