This handout photograph taken on September 4, 2024 and released on September 5, 2024 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows BepiColombo says goodbye to Mercury for the fourth time. The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has successfully completed its fourth of six gravity assist flybys at Mercury, capturing images of two special impact craters as it uses the little planet's gravity to steer itself on course to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on September 4, 2024 and released on September 5, 2024 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows Mercury reveals its Four Seasons. The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has successfully completed its fourth of six gravity assist flybys at Mercury, capturing images of two special impact craters as it uses the little planet's gravity to steer itself on course to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on September 4, 2024 and released on September 5, 2024 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows BepiColombo captures newly named Stoddart crater. The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has successfully completed its fourth of six gravity assist flybys at Mercury, capturing images of two special impact craters as it uses the little planet's gravity to steer itself on course to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on September 4, 2024 and released on September 5, 2024 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows Mercury reveals its Four Seasons. The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission has successfully completed its fourth of six gravity assist flybys at Mercury, capturing images of two special impact craters as it uses the little planet's gravity to steer itself on course to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on July 16, 2000 and released on January 15, 2001 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows CLUSTER-2's artist impression with real satellites in orbit. After 24 years of studying Earth's magnetic environment, the Salsa satellite is expected to disintegrate on September 8, 2024 over the Pacific during a "targeted" re-entry into the atmosphere, a final mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA). Salsa is one of four satellites of the Cluster mission, launched in 2000 to better understand the magnetosphere, the powerful magnetic shield that protects the Earth from solar winds and without which it would not be habitable. (Photo by Anne RENAUT / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by ANNE RENAUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on July 16, 2000 and released on January 15, 2001 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows transfer of the launcher from the MIK building to the launch pad, in Baikonour. After 24 years of studying Earth's magnetic environment, the Salsa satellite is expected to disintegrate on September 8, 2024 over the Pacific during a "targeted" re-entry into the atmosphere, a final mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA). Salsa is one of four satellites of the Cluster mission, launched in 2000 to better understand the magnetosphere, the powerful magnetic shield that protects the Earth from solar winds and without which it would not be habitable. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on July 16, 2000 and released on January 15, 2001 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows technicians look at CLUSTER-2 in HPF building, in Baikonour. After 24 years of studying Earth's magnetic environment, the Salsa satellite is expected to disintegrate on September 8, 2024 over the Pacific during a "targeted" re-entry into the atmosphere, a final mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA). Salsa is one of four satellites of the Cluster mission, launched in 2000 to better understand the magnetosphere, the powerful magnetic shield that protects the Earth from solar winds and without which it would not be habitable. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

This handout photograph taken on July 16, 2000 and released on January 15, 2001 by European Space Agency (ESA) shows a technician inspecting the CLUSTER-2 in IAGB's assembling room, in Munich. After 24 years of studying Earth's magnetic environment, the Salsa satellite is expected to disintegrate on September 8, 2024 over the Pacific during a "targeted" re-entry into the atmosphere, a final mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA). Salsa is one of four satellites of the Cluster mission, launched in 2000 to better understand the magnetosphere, the powerful magnetic shield that protects the Earth from solar winds and without which it would not be habitable. (Photo by Handout / EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /European Space Agency (ESA) " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)