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Belarusian innovation contributes to exploration of Mercury

BepiColombo. Image from https://gazeta-navuka.by

MINSK, 29 May (BelTA) - Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) Vladimir Karanik praised the successes in the country’s space industry and its role in the exploration of Mercury, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Karanik stressed that 12 organizations in Belarus are engaged in space research, covering areas such as electronics, materials science and optics production.

"We have notable achievements. The NASB developments will soon reach Mercury," he emphasized.

Vladimir Karanik spoke about BepiColombo - a joint space mission of the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency aimed at studying Mercury. The mission comprises two satellites launched together: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. The mission was launched on 20 October 2018 and is expected to reach Mercury in November 2026 after a flyby of Earth, and two flybys of Venus. It will complete six flybys of Mercury.

The NASB contributed to the project by developing a multilayer protective coating, shielding the probe’s electronics from cosmic radiation and other harsh space conditions. "Given that the probe has been operational since 2018, it appears to provide effective protection," the NASB chairman said.

Among other successes in Belarus' space industry, Vladimir Karanik also highlighted cooperation with Russia in the development of Earth remote sensing satellites.

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