BepiColombo enters Mercury orbit in two weeks after an eight-year journey and nine flybys

The European-Japanese BepiColombo probe is due to enter orbit around Mercury on November 21, ESA said. Its propulsion module separated on September 3 at about 13:00 BST, more than 200 million kilometres from Earth, confirmed by stations at Cebreros and Malargüe.

Launched on October 20, 2018 from Kourou, the probe used one Earth, two Venus and six Mercury flybys to reach its target. "Roll call completed, GO for separation," mission control reported.

Two spacecraft

ESA's MPO orbiter and Japan's Mio will separate on December 9 and 10, with science operations starting in April 2027. Mercury is the hardest planet in the solar system to reach because of the Sun's gravity.