Europe Space Exploration & Science Missions

European and Japanese spacecraft separate for final approach to Mercury after nearly decade-long voyage

Two spacecraft bound for Mercury have entered the final stage of a nearly decade-long journey after separating from their mother ship on Thursday. The European and Japanese-built probes will now continue independently toward the planet, marking a major milestone in a long-duration deep-space mission.

Discovered 2026-09-03T07:32:59.030856-07:00 | 2026-09-03T07:32:59.030856-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The separation marks a critical transition from the spacecraft’s joint cruise phase to independent operations at Mercury.
The mission demonstrates the complexity of long-duration planetary exploration, with the probes nearing their destination after almost a decade in transit.

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Associated Press The Independent