BepiColombo's Final Flyby Unveils Mercury's Icy Secrets

On January 8, 2025, ESA and JAXA’s BepiColombo completed its sixth Mercury flyby, gliding within 295 km of the north pole. Stunning images revealed perpetually shadowed craters like Prokofiev and Tolkien, potentially iced despite Mercury’s scorching neighbor status.

As the spacecraft gears up for a 2026 orbital insertion, scientists eagerly anticipate data on frozen water and volcanic plains. BepiColombo’s icy surprises add a cool twist to Mercury’s fiery reputation, blending humor and wonder in uncovering the planet’s geological mysteries.