Spacecraft start 7-year journey to Mercury

BepiColombo will arrive at its destination in December 2025

European and Japanese space agencies said an Ariane 5 rocket successfully lifted a spacecraft carrying two probes into orbit yesterday for a joint mission to planet Mercury.

The European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the unmanned BepiColombo spacecraft successfully separated and was sent into orbit from French Guiana as planned to begin a seven-year journey to Mercury.

The spacecraft, named after Italian scientist Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo, was in the right orbit and has sent the first signal after the lift-off.

ESA says the €1.3 billion (Dh5.5 billion) mission is one of the most challenging. ■ Mercury’s extreme temperatures, the intense gravity pull of the sun and blistering solar radiation make for hellish conditions. BepiColombo will arrive at its destination in December 2025.

AP The Ariane 5 rocket carrying BepiColombo lifts off from its launch pad in French Guiana.