European and Japanese space agencies said an Ariane 5 rocket successfully lifted a spacecraft carrying two probes into orbit on Saturday for a joint mission to Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. The European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the spacecraft successfully separated and was sent into orbit from French Guiana as planned to begin a seven-year journey to Mercury.
- Mercury up close: Japanese-European space mission gets 1st glimpse of planet
- Japan, Europe send spacecraft on 7-year journey to Mercury