Why ESA's BepiColombo Took Such a Convoluted Route to Mercury

[@robbierobinson8819]

Starting my fascination with space when as a junior school kid our teacher brought a radio into the room so we could hear the broadcast of the beeps of Sputnik 1 it is mind-blowing to have videos and reports such as you do on Astrum bringing real images and data that were mainly in artist's ideas and writer's imaginings in Astounding or other SciFi magazines. Thank you for such a great channel and real human narration.

[@nightphyre1021]

Great work, you produce better content in higher quantity than entire tv networks. You are going to be like Carl Sagan for many young kids. You make me happy the internet exists.

[@microbuilder]

Growing up with shows like Star Trek, these videos, if nothing else, show me just how far we have come, and just how far we have to go...equally impressed and frustrated lol

[@jerseybound717]

Just think of how much further we would have gotten if people didn't lose interest in NASA so early on. We lost a lot of tech and things to be able to push more people into space because the public got bored and didn't want to pay taxes to Nasa anymore. Nasa's budget doesn't even show on a scale to the defense budget,

[@Ritziey]

i dont know about u.s system but doesn't it depend on the ruling government to decide the allotment of budgets for nasa or defence etc. they could allocate a little more for space science @@jerseybound717

[@ntsejfamyaj]

Lucky you. I grew up watching Trump criminal and civil trials, along with Ukraine combat videos.

[@musicbro8225]

@@jerseybound717 I don't think it's fair to blame all of common man (to be un-pc) - we are guided by our economies and those who drive them. If they get bored with it, or more to the point, couldn't see the profit in it compared to the industry of destruction and reconstruction then what could you or I do to change that? We have been 'inspired' by corruption and war with psychological manipulation and misinformation, as if that is our true nature - we could have been lead down a more loving and cooperative path. Trouble is we could never know because we give in to our 'devils' with barely a whimper, the cynics have won.

[@OurAmazingSkies]

Human's are still playing with expensive fireworks, 'star trek' is a long long way off yet...

[@robsin2810]

Alex, I thank you and your team for expanding my old brain. Your voice and ability to explain the subjects is just wonderful.👍🙏🇦🇺

[@alimohammedabd]

Gotta say. All your vids are very informative. Stuff like this should be on tv.

[@r.adhamaal5401]

This is a boon for the common people who on earth wants information like this.Thanks Astrum

[@ndstar4267]

I have always been fascinated with Mercury along with Pluto ever since I was 10 years old. Back in the 70’s, thank you very much for your ongoing info. In the intriguing universe.

[@MrTonaluv]

Yes I grew up with both Mercury and Pluto underexplored. I guess they weren't a priority compared to other planets. Also Pluto was ridiculously far away which is a big reason TBH.

[@richardletaw4068]

THAT is what synthesizers were designed for! At least, in part. Early synth designers didn’t see them as limited to being musical instruments, and therefore did not include keyboards. ANY transducer capable of producing an appropriate voltage was fair game. Those guys would have loved this! (As do I.) Thanks for sharing this, Astrum!

[@valentinobaksa9119]

New episode just before bedtime, thank You! ❤

[@matthewtopping2061]

There aren't many science channels I know of that have presenters with such clear, soothing diction as this one, to say nothing of the thorough research that must surely go into each and every one of these lovely videos. Great for winding down in the late evening.

[@astrumspace]

That's very kind of you to say. Glad you enjoy the videos!

[@jippalippa]

Bepicolombo is such a silly name; I love it!

[@Taverius]

It's named after Giuseppe "Bepi" Colobo, an Italian scientist working for NASA who figured some of the weirder orbital mechanics things for Mercury flybys in the 70s for the Mariner program. We wouldn't really have much data on Mercury without him.

[@FischerNilsA]

Granpa columbus.

[@Deletirium]

It sounds like a childrens' educational cartoon. A dancing blue bear or something.

[@jerseybound717]

When you find out it's named after Giuseppe (Bepi) Colombo

[@hyperturbotechnomike]

My name is Giuseppe Bepi Colombo, but everybody calls me Bepi Colombo

[@johnproctor6438]

Pampu facula sounds like something I would call someone when I’m drunk.

[@advicepirate8673]

lmao

[@ElDerpy]

said it regularly when i worked in an italian restaurant and the chef would stomp on my feet when passing

[@wyattboothby5285]

Sounds like something I'd call ME when I'm drunk..

[@michaellee6489]

Aaaaaahahahahaha lmao!

[@nickychimes4719]

It's from Harry potter mate, it's actually a spell to summon a big sandwich

[@jeremyglass4283]

did anyone else initially think the Manley crater was named after Scott Manley?😂

[@Vinemaple]

"Manley by name but not by nature, eh?" --Connie Bloor

[@Thepher6]

Clearly this imposter didn't fly safe, leaving the crater and all

[@IvanRodriguez-tl2zr]

33434 Scottmanley: Am I a joke to you?

[@rickde0602]

I certainly did! Fly safe.

[@FischerNilsA]

I knew it was not - but I too did think about him with a _"youtubers probably will be used as honorable namings at one point"._

[@colindeer4908]

Alex, I found this presentation fascinating. Wow, that final audio clip was awesome . The images provide us with so much detail of our distant cousin planet . I do love hearing your presentation.

[@old_guard2431]

Music of the Spheres. Only one, but still epic.

[@robertfindley921]

Love it! Science is awesome. I wish people would stop spending so much time and money on mythology and focus on science.

[@ElysetheEevee]

​@@Reformsqua That's a huge claim you're making. I'd beg to differ. Humans are STILL working on multigenerational and international projects to this day that have very little to do with either, apart from possibly being a belief of the scientists involved in some manner (generally religion). That's far from making it the core basis for doing the research in the first place.

[@Lavonne9870]

I wish they'd stop spending the money on trillion dollar jets that ultimately got canned, and spend it on research or infrastructure.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

I love how people get all bent about "mythology" while never actually studying the subject. Almost like it's some sort of allergy. On the other hand, many of the top scientific minds in history were fascinated and inspired by it. Still are.

[@kevinsayes]

“Amen” lol

[@ImHighOnPropain]

Love the videos were you talk about space missions!

[@pablitopnl]

Great video is always! Also, I understand sponsors are greed to have to be able to keep videos going. However, please, if you could reconsider the sponsorship with better help. Their practices are quite unethical and would love to see an improved vetting system or practice with feature sponsors

[@robinbinder8658]

imma add this channel to my blacklist. how can they seriously still do this !!! its truly baffling...

[@shootingblueyes]

Scott Manley makes better quality videos on similar topics, I highly suggest him as an alternative

[@Sniperboy5551]

@robinbinder8658 Bye, I guess. Why does everyone have to whine about sponsorships? He’s not forcing you to buy anything… he’s making his money.

[@Yezpahr]

​ @Sniperboy5551 It's just a phase... like when everybody said "wazaaaaa". Now everybody overreacts over a (proven) sham sponsor. And truth be told, it's not even certain he gets paid. They might throw around terms like CTR/CPM and say it's bad so they pay less or they want you to do another video. Established Titles started this whiteknighting phenomenon, they overdid their scam by also scamming the creators and now every sponsor gets scrutinized 10x more.

[@MrOskiee]

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

[@danieldmg]

So interesting, congrats for this video!

[@earnestbrown6524]

That 1st audio clip took me back to my days of looking at SONAR displays.

[@davidrees1840]

...and the 2nd one is Jimmy Page!

[@WombuNan]

@@davidrees1840LMAO

[@jonathanrossroberts]

Wonderful video as always! Thanks for the great content!

[@JoyRBradford]

Awesome! Thank you Astrum! ✨

[@MWL_-jo3nf]

Uploaded 9 minutes ago, perfect timing I'm watching this for sleep now😂

[@andyh5666]

13:07 Alex, for some unknown reason the timbre of your voice wakes up my robovac and it sits there asking for further instructions 🤣 Not the first time I've noticed this but only seems to happen with your voice in particular 👍 Great content.

[@tofudasimp4140]

loving these vids keep up the good work :)

[@iamdmc]

Hope your throat feels better soon! Strange that I've watched so many of your videos that I can hear a rasp in your voice. Thanks for yet another informative and inspiring video! As a neuroscientist who wishes he'd become an astrophysicist I am often glued to your videos!

[@lexinwonderland5741]

funny enough, I went the opposite direction. May we both find better fortune in our new pursuits! interdisciplinary knowledge is responsible for huge amounts of scientific progress, so I have no doubt you'll be more than welcomed in the field!

[@CaidicusProductions]

What an amazing presentation. Thank you, Alex, it was simply beautiful.

[@peter_gagliardi]

Did not expect this video to give me new ideas to incorporate into my spacey musical compositions, but here we are!

[@TheUnatuber]

"Oh, excuse me, sir. I'm sorry, sir, but another question just occurred to me."

[@nathanddrews]

"I can see that you're really very busy and I don't want to be a bother..."

[@mrsupremegascon]

You know, there's just one more thing that’s been nagging at me, Mr. Mercury. You've got this solid core of yours, see, and it's unusually large, bigger than what folks usually expect for someone of your stature. Mind if I ask how that happened?

[@jugomebu]

Thank you for another beautiful upload

[@AS-zc8mr]

cheers from Santiago Chile!!!

[@ZMAN_420]

Great Content! Thanks for the upload.👍🏻

[@kalam420]

Your voice has been added to my inner monologue, excited giggles, chuckles and all.

[@fr57ujf]

"Two probes and a propulsion module". The image shows four objects: Transfer Module, Planetary Orbiter, Sun Shield, and Magnetosphericc Orbiter. Can make heads or tail out of that.

[@francislutz8027]

It's a heat shield/sun shield. It's a simple piece of metal formed to he shape needed. Chill Winston!

[@wyattboothby5285]

The sun shield is a completely passive module. It has no flight systems, sensors of scientific value or data collection purposes. It's basically a lens cap that gets jettisoned when the orbiter separates from the other components. But yeah, it is technically four sections, so I caught that too. I think he just left it out because it doesn't have a cool acronym like MIO.

[@fr57ujf]

If the two probes are the Planetary Orbiter and the Magnetospheric Orbiter, is the Transfer Module the Propulsion Module?

[@dielaughing73]

​@@fr57ujf that would seem a sound guess

[@Deletirium]

How do you think we can tell everytime someone's smiling, just by the sound of their voice? I'm always puzzled by that. Alex always starts off smiling, then gets a little more serious, then half smiles the rest of the time. It's so weird how you can immediately hear the voice change.

[@justinmason5042]

It’s probably really difficult to keep that up for the hours and hours that it takes to record something like this lol

[@HelloThere.....]

Your voice changes depending on the shape of your mouth.

[@Sniperboy5551]

@HelloThere..... Yeah, but it’s interesting how we can interpret those emotions so naturally.

[@stevoo3237]

It's because he is using Better Health

[@bakedbeings]

One way it's achieved: speaking with a raised soft palette.

[@Beryllahawk]

I'm still so impressed by the incredible planning that resulted in this probe making it as far as it has. And super excited that its orbits will begin in my birth month, hehe!

[@Shanghaimartin]

I gotta believe that the extra cost of sending it up with more rocket propellant to they can scrub more speed faster HAS to be worth it if it might shorten the mission time by months or even years.

[@Synarix189]

Don't use better help without first reading about them!

[@starfang1567]

Exactly, they’re a scam company

[@mykelevangelista6492]

Great video. So looking forward to BepiColombo's final arrival and the information we'll receive. Hope all goes well 👍

[@milodemoray]

Thanks for this video Alex.The ability for us to "hear" the data brings an amazing quality to astronomy.

[@-UnchartedSky-]

If all there was to watch was Astrum's videos, I would still be happy :)

[@Deletirium]

If you like Astrum, you'll enjoy Anton Petrov. Similar vibe, soothing voice, makes esoteric and complex subjects accesible. Nice guy, too.

[@-UnchartedSky-]

@@Deletirium I also love the wonderful person, Anton :)

[@fr.chrisbazyouros6832]

Did anyone else think he was calling the craft "Baby Columbo"? Great video as always!

[@LoganHunter82]

I suggest that you reconsider that BetterHelp sponsorship...

[@CrispyLooper2112]

Fascinating!! Great work!! Love this channel

[@SleepyCod467]

0:53 actually the constellation of pisces is 350 light years away 🤓

[@thorr18BEM]

Gamma Piscium (γ Psc), 138 lightyears, magnitude 3.70.🤓 Omega Piscium (ω Psc), 106 lightyears, class F4IV, magnitude 4.03.🤓 Revati ("rich"), otherwise Zeta Piscium (ζ Psc), 148 lightyears, class A7IV, magnitude 5.21.🤓 Epsilon Piscium (ε Psc), 190 lightyears, class K0III, magnitude 4.27.🤓

[@TheEyez187]

9:45 - That sound byte would sound so cool as the intro to a Psytrance track!

[@orotubi]

The name Mio reminds me of Sailor Mercury, Ami Mizuno. She wields the power of hydrokinesis, water/ice power. The fact that Mio means "waterway" is such a befitting name for this mission ❤

[@danielhale1]

The name BepiColombo makes me think of the bird meme "Bepis vs Conk" and that delights me. I remember when I first learned that Mercury and the sun are vastly harder to visit successfully than the outer planets. Having the fuel for slowing down is a big challenge. It's better to spend a long time slowing with gravitational assists than to try to muscle through it, because the fuel requirement for the direct approach is just impractical. I'm especially curious about the mystery substance that's off-gassing and remains unidentified even today. I look forward to the readings next year!

[@chrislong3938]

I can only imagine what a sunrise must look like there!

[@Gdub-ok7ur]

Very long. Mercury's day is almost twice as long as its year. About 176 earth days long.

[@amon_69]

finally it's time for this mission to give us data. it's been ages. first time i heard of it was in 2012 on a German space podcast called "Raumzeit".

[@michaellee6489]

Alex, LOVED those "sonified" audio clips. How Eerie and Beautiful!

[@Mr.Benson]

Any truth to the rumor that the space craft was named after the Buca di Beppo restaurant chain?

[@hitmanct1]

That synth flyby gives me the chills. 😮

[@RocktCityTim]

Thanks, Alex! Your Astrum channel should be standard course material for all high school-level STEM curricula. (oh, and saw my Patreon star 😄🚀)

[@ruperterskin2117]

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@edunger1313]

Sounds like Alex has cold. Take care of yourself, buddy!

[@masterxyr]

delicious insight catered to all of us directly to our pockets and homes. such a wonderful time to be alive, cosmologically speaking :))

[@Liam25433]

Love your vids Astrum

[@JunoStella-cj8kg]

Love your channel, but please consider never doing a betterhelp sponsorship again. They are an incredibly scummy company and do not deserve to be supported in any way.

[@brettsheridan6881]

Really hey? Can I ask why you say this? Have you had an experience with them? Forgive my curiosity.

[@JunoStella-cj8kg]

@@brettsheridan6881 I've never used them personally but some of my friends have and have had a bad experience and they are not alone from what I've heard online, also they sell your data to companies like Facebook and Snapchat, it's gotten to a point where the FTC has considered stepping in and making those data sales illegal.

[@astrodyte8199]

I second this, in good faith. Genuinely curious.

[@snipey47a]

Can’t get BetterHelp in Australia and yet, I am just as curious. So I third this and with as much good faith as those who replied before me.

[@GU-jt5fe]

for everyone asking BetterHelp doctors talked over me and then tried to convince me i was gay for some reason. do not use them

[@kidmohair8151]

a much better use of the wealth that the planet generates than weapons, I'd say.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

Sounding a bit under the weather, hope you're doing well! And thanks for awesome content as always

[@mirthenary]

Love your work alex😁

[@Scott-fj9uf]

Better help was not helpful to someone I love who needed help. Love you Alex.

[@ramley]

I wish I had a news app on my phone that was purely outer space news about new discoveries curated by Astrum

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

I've had the privilege of a long life as a very interested science observer (science is my passion but it don't pay Squat). From the early 60's thru to mid 70's school years thru to now, I've witnessed the evolution of what I call High Layman information regarding Science (Mercury). My opinion with a Dollar added will get you a 2nd day Doughnut at the Deli, with that said I think Mercury was a Neptune type gas semi-giant that's had all it's upper gas and liquid atmosphere blowtorched off. We had a Hot Semi-Jupiter but not any more.

[@Astronomical_YouTube]

Sorry, but that's not the case. At 0.4 AU, Mercury is still far enough away from the Sun that evaporation would take a long, long time. So much time, that the amount of craters we see on it's surface wouldn't match with the amount of craters that we'd expect to see. It'd be noticably off. Of course that's not even mentioning the fact that hydrogen and helium were a very sparse gas in the inner solar system, making Mercury - closest to the Sun and least massive planet in the inner solar system - at the lowest chance of ever developing into any form of gas giant.

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

@@Astronomical_KZbin- Sir, you're most likely quite Correct, for brevity I 'Try'(*) to keep short as possible but there a point here most missed, I've spent a Long lifetime with various scientific facts, set in stone with all agreeing it's truth, only to be turned on it's head 10 years later by new and more complete evidence. I've seen it time and again, be careful on how hard you hang your hat onto Any Theory, nothing worse than eating scientific crow, as for me I'm a dumba$$, don't care how wrong I may be, professionals' another story- (*), don't always succeed. P.S.- example Hoyle's refusal to admit to any other universal theory but his Own. He was never regarded with the kind of respect he once had before the debate.

[@illarionbykov7401]

​​@@Astronomical_KZbin"hydrogen and helium were a very sparse gas in the inner solar system" how can we know that now?

[@Astronomical_YouTube]

@@illarionbykov7401 because if it wasn't, all terrestrial planets would currently be gas giants.

[@Astronomical_YouTube]

@@illarionbykov7401 very good reply. I gave you a perfectly clear response; which wasnt just ''because it wasnt'' read my reply again and observe how there is more text after that. Your reaction is basically ''lol you're lying'' without providing an objection to explain to me why i could be wrong. The distribution of gas and dust in the early solar system is a researched topic, and the fact that you're clueless about it doesn't mean that science is clueless about it. In case you want me to tell you more about early solar system research, or ''ancient alien scrolls'' as you like to call it; the reason of the abscense of hydrogen and helium in the inner solar system is because of the sun's radiation. The outward force from the solar radiation pushed out the lighter elements to further distances from the sun, where the solar radiation was less extreme, leaving heavier atoms like iron and silicate behind. That's how we got the heavy and dense terrestrial planets in the inner solar system, and less dense gas planets further from the Sun.

[@zoebulle9102]

this is the earliest i’ve been. love your videos! 🌌

[@UnitSe7en]

Scott's face when they announce Manley crater. Scott's face a few moments later when he learns who it's about.

[@BryanLawlor]

So cool! I have never heard of BepiColombo before... it's a catchy name!

[@bellytripper-nh8ox]

AND A MADE UP NAME.

[@ichoppabroccoli3670]

So the magneto field sounds like something from Pink Floyd. Interesting!

[@linesided]

Wow, today I ditched a new Event Horizon video for this one. Bravo!

[@GaryStark]

How does ESA and NASA manage personnel on missions that take so long? Are people reassigned during the quiet times? Perhaps a video idea…

[@Deletirium]

The exciting adventures of the staffing manager as he writes out everybody's schedule?

[@GaryStark]

@@Deletirium I have no idea how they do it, which is why I asked…

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

@GaryStark Suspended Animation or Stasis.... Bus Station lockers.

[@pierman4858]

That's actually a great question

[@JafoTHEgreat]

I'm excited to have my name attached to the Clipper Satellite mission to check out the Europa oceans.

[@leatherelf2078]

Everything about astrophysics amazes me because it is all possible when one day, a man had an idea about what he saw with a prism in sunlight.

[@g0veGaming]

The fly by sounds straight out of the movie Sunshine

[@LargeToaster_54]

10:57 did anyone notice the smiley face shaped craters sort of above the center of the screen?

[@loisrossi841]

Most interesting, thank you.

[@mangogo44]

Raid shadow legends > Better help. Yes.

[@rickshawwheelchair]

When we understand Mercury better, i hope that will help us terraform venus!

[@shmackydoodRon]

I can’t believe those science hippies took Vulcan off the list of planets.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

By the first pictures you showed, I had expected the name of the mission to be M.2-NVME...

[@Dexterdevloper]

thank you so so much , I really love your videos.

[@immagical7036]

Wait, Bepicolombo’s next flyby is gonna be happening during my birthday!! Omg hahaha

[@iggyzorro2406]

very nice video, thank you. And thank you for not having one of those annoying A.I. narrations. BTW, are you from the same place as the actor Alan Cumming (somewhere in Scotland, I think) there is a similarity in the sound of your speech.

[@Deletirium]

No.

[@ivantuma7969]

sounds like they chose notes from the movie "Sunshine" for the soundmap of the flyby...

[@jeanpitre5789]

Crazy they found the Vex there

[@CodeBoxDE]

these sound clips are so damn creepy. i love it.

[@HarmonixJourney]

So damn fascinating.

[@nathanddrews]

9:27 The Orb's latest album insane!

[@milosterwheeler2520]

What happens to the craft after it orbits Mercury for one or two years? Do we crash it into Mercury - or the Sun?

[@JAmonOfficial]

Aliens: 'we be like hello guys!'' Earth: 'nah mateys, we scienced your shits out'

[@sheaalexander157]

My fellow Astrum lovers…have you ever looked at a video or talk that addressed the following: What would happen if, what would we see from here, and what problems if any would we expect if THE MOON took a huge Thea or astroid size direct hit? Would it rain down fire and be epic or would we barely know it happened?

[@geefreck]

I'd be excited if a lander could be placed in one of the craters near Mercury's poles. Somewhere always in the shade. Imagine if rovers could be placed inside that are capable of exploring not just the crater, but could go to the rims, whenever directed. They could study areas that are in direct sunlight, even if just peaking over the edge, and study the same areas during the night. All within a "safe" area of a permanently shadow'd crater. 🌌 🌓 ☀

[@Travecmo]

Throughly exciting

[@genghisgalahad8465]

BepiColombo: just, just one more thing, i couldn't help but notice while passing by Mercury....

[@LorandBL]

Pampu Facula and the Beagle Rupes is my new band name!

[@aetherial87]

Those sounds remind me of creepy ambient music tracks used in some sci-fi, lol. Trippy.

[@NormanLavin]

The second clip sounded like Steve Miller band the beginning of jet airliner I believe.

[@russellneitzke4972]

Does the isotope for the calcium on Mercury match the calcium in our bones? Is the skeleton of life and the drake equation dependent on heavy late bombardment exiting debris between proto planets?

[@musicbro8225]

You revive my youthful wonder!

[@scottmasson3336]

I've read and seen Solaris!!!!

[@Deletirium]

I've seen the George Clooney version...

[@RobertMurray-wk5ib]

Since gravity is everywhere, space time is NEVER straight ANYWHERE? Close enough. They just can’t hit the brakes hard enough to drop directly into Mercury orbit, apparently. Because everything is curved and the curves compound the curves. And speed basically determines your orbit more so than which direction you “fly”. Maddening