📡 Estrack deep space antennas are in position for #BepiColombo.

Cebreros ready for separation detection - check! ☑️

Malargüe ready for background tracking - check! ☑️

@esa.int #JAXA #Mercury

ESA Operations @operations.esa.int
Preliminary #BepiColombo Doppler separation signal detected. Initial tracking data are consistent with the planned MTM separation sequence. Now awaiting acquisition of signal at 15:53 CEST for full confirmation.. 9/3/2026

Tutto procede bene per #BepiColombo dopo la separazione dal Modulo MTM 👇

Rimaniamo in attesa della conferma, tra circa 30 minuti, dell'acquisizione del segnale.

@operations.esa.int #JAXA #Mercury

*whispers*
They said „mercury’s volcanoes“ and „planetary deformation“.
<3

#BepiColombo

The cartoon journey of #BepiColombo you just showed before the intermission was wonderful!
Could you post the link to it by itself, I'm sure teachers would love it!

The big satellite dish in Spain ( shown in figure) is ready to receive the radio signal that confirms separation #ESA #BepiColombo

Still need some patience as the space craft(s!) - now plural - reorients itself.

Figure is taken live at @iwf-oeaw.bsky.social

📶Preliminary #BepiColombo Doppler separation signal detected.

Initial tracking data are consistent with the planned MTM separation sequence.

Now awaiting acquisition of signal at 15:53 CEST for full confirmation.

@esa.int #JAXA #Mercury

The moment when #BepiColombo separated and signal disappeared on purpose at the exact time.

#BepiColombo runs on electric propulsion. I am still blown away (pun intended) that this possible now for interplanetary missions.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_e...

Even in space, the future is electric propulsion.

The #BepiColombo MTM separation Livestream of @esa.int straight into the #Mercury2026 conference at the @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social Promotiezaal!

And now the nail-biting wait for confirmation separation was successful!

The #BepiColombo Mission Control Team is now checking the final telemetry received from the spacecraft during execution of MTM separation. ☑️

@esa.int #JAXA #Mercury

All set up to follow the separation of @esa.int #BepiColombo from the Mercury Transfer Module. The Bepi team at #mpsgoetting and colleagues are eagerly awaiting the first step of the mission’s arrival at #Mercury.
Join us watching live: www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
YT: youtube.com/live/oC7lQng...

The BepiColombo mission begins its arrival at Mercury after nearly 8 years www.cnn.com/2026/09/03/s... #space #astronomy #BepiColombo #Mercury #spaceflight #flight #mission #science

Those last selfie images are already in @esa.int's Planetary Science Archive (PSA): psa.esa.int/psa/#/pages/... #BepiColombo

⏳ The countdown is over.

#BepiColombo's Mercury Transfer Module should have now separated from the spacecraft, a key step in the mission's journey towards orbiting #Mercury. 🛰️↔️🚀

Now expecting acquisition of signal confirming separation no earlier than 15:53 CEST.

@esa.int #JAXA

Daumen drücken für #BepiColombo! www.fr.de/wissen/esa-s...

Look at that groovy #BepiColombo neon #sciart!

The #BepiColombo MTM separation sequence has now started on-board, taking care of all that is needed for separation to take place. 🛰️

We'll only see this on ground about 11 min later. ⏱️

Mission teams are closely tracking system status ahead of this key milestone. 📈

@esa.int #JAXA #Mercury

宇推くりあさんによる実況も始まりました.
ESA公式配信のミラーです.
ISAS #JAXA 宇宙科学研究所と #ESA 欧州宇宙機関が共同で運用中の国際水星探査機『ベピ・コロンボ』( #BepiColombo )の推進モジュール MTMの分離運用配信です！🛰

#ベピコロンボ #JAXA #ESA #みお
【 #雑談 】水星磁気圏探査機みお 推進モジュールと分離！ #宇推くりあ
www.youtube.com/live/aT0yRjJ...

Indeed we are also watching #BepiColombo from Bochum Observatory with our 20m dish. Weather conditions in Bochum not very favorable at the moment.... it takes 11.5 minutes until signal arrives from 207 Million kilometers at Earth!