Space mission for exploration of the Sun Mercury and inner Heliosphere (“InterHelios”)

The scientific objectives for a new mission for exploration of the Sun, Mercury and inner Heliosphere (InterHelios), its ballistic design and orbital characteristics are presented. This mission will provide observations of the Sun and solar wind from almost heliosynchronous orbits within heliocentric distances from about 30 to 40 Rs. The mission is designed for multiple encounters with Mercury and observations of its surface and its gas and plasma environment. The in-situ-wind and remote-solar measurements will permit us to determine the characteristics of the wind and associated plasma and magnetic fields in the regions of the heliosphere that are related with the magnetically active streamer belt and coronal holes extending to near-ecliptic latitudes.