As in Roman mythology, Mercury is the bearer of valuable information; however, it remains practically unknown, since its proximity to the Sun means that it is against the light, hindering its observation from Earth. Its irregular properties compared with those of neighbouring planets may provide important clues on the general process of planet formation. Similarly, accurate measurement of its orbital movement, which is incompatible with classical orbital theories due to its proximity to the huge mass of the sun, will be the most rigorous test of the theory of relativity ever carried out.

To get to know this planet better, the European Space Agency (ESA), with the collaboration of the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA), has launched the exploration mission BepiColombo. This is an unprecedented technical challenge that must deal with the extreme temperature of the planet and high amounts of solar radiation.

BepiColombo incorporates a magnetometer allowing it to collect information on Mercury’s weak magnetic field, a strange characteristic that tells us about its composition and possible movements of magma in its interior. SENER has developed the mechanism that separates the magnetometers from any magnetic disturbances coming from the satellite, as well as the moving arm that accompanies it, which must in turn be extremely light and have a practically refractory interior. The contract includes a model for classification in a solar simulator in 2009 and a flight model in 2010, both currently in the design phase.