The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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BepiColombo's radiator is used to radiate unwanted heat from the spacecraft. To avoid the radiator getting overwhelmed by heat from the planet Mercury below it it is shielded with specially shaped titanium fins. These work like everyday Venetian blinds to screen out the Sun, which can look closed when viewed from one angle and open from another. These fins are carefully angled so that spacecraft heat passes straight through them, while high-emissivity, lower-wavelength planetary heat gets reflected away. The left view shows the equivalent mirror-like view from Mercury, and the right view shows the opened-up view from deep space.