Thales Alenia Space and Astrium will collaborate for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) BepiColombo spacecraft utilizing X- and Ka-band transponders designed to communicate data from an exploration mission of Mercury.
   BepiColombo is scheduled for a mid-2015 launch and is a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA), designed to perform a detailed study of both the planet Mercury’s surface and magnetosphere while withstanding the planet’s extreme high-temperature conditions.
   According to the contract, Thales Alenia Space Italia will develop the X- and Ka-band transponders, onboard computer, mass memory and high-gain antenna, while Astrium GmbH will serve as prime contractor. “Satellite integration and testing will be especially important since all the modules making up the satellite will first have to be assembled and checked independently, then integrated in the spacecraft for final checks before the launch,” Thales Alenia Space Italia President and CEO Luigi Pasquali said in a statement. “We are also delighted with the extreme performance offered by our antenna, which is an essential component and key to dealing with the severe environmental conditions found on Mercury."