"BepiColombo" Mission

Carbon and oxygen found around Venus

On its way to its actual destination, the planet Mercury, the European-Japanese space probe “BepiColombo” has also collected data from the vicinity of Venus. For the first time, it has been proven that our neighboring planet is losing particles of carbon and oxygen into space.

This provides new insights into the evolution and composition of planetary atmospheres, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) announced on Friday. The instruments used to make this discovery were co-developed by the Institute for Space Research (IWF) in Graz.

Venus has no magnetic field of its own
Unlike Earth, Venus does not have its own magnetic field to provide protection against the solar wind. The stream of particles emanating from the Sun therefore accelerates ions—electrically charged atoms—in the planet’s atmosphere. The ions are thus propelled into space.

Previous measurements had already determined that the particles consist largely of oxygen and hydrogen. A more precise distinction between oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen has only now become possible, the IWF wrote in a press release on Friday. The “BepiColombo” measurements were taken on August 10, 2021, approximately 550 kilometers from the surface of Venus. The findings have now been published in the journal “Nature Astronomy.”

Instruments co-developed by the IWF in Graz
The IWF is involved in the development of the magnetic field instruments and the ion spectrometer used in the “BepiColombo” mission. “It’s wonderful that our years of intensive work are already bearing fruit even before ‘BepiColombo’ has reached its destination,” said researcher and co-author David Fischer in the press release.

For IWF Director Christiane Helling, the measurements taken at Venus will allow us to learn more about the atmospheres and magnetospheres surrounding planets, as well as their interaction with the solar wind. Electrons are released from Venus, creating an electric field. This field likely ejects carbon and oxygen ions from its atmosphere.

Collaboration Between ESA and JAXA
“BepiColombo” is a dual-spacecraft mission developed in collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It launched on October 20, 2018, and is scheduled to reach its destination, Mercury, in late 2025. During its journey, it will orbit Earth, Venus, and Mercury several times to counteract the Sun’s strong gravitational pull.

“BepiColombo” is designed to study Mercury’s magnetic field and the influence of solar winds. Researchers hope to gain insights into the planet’s internal structure. Ultimately, this should also help us better understand the core of our Earth.