The BepiColombo spacecraft leans for a long journey after taking "selfies"

An aircraft built on a British territory, built on a protected area, built on a springboard is now in "cruise mode", as it engages for a five-billion-kilometer journey to Mercure.

Scientists will have to wait another seven years before BepiColombo delivers two orbiters around the planet closest to the sun.

The spacecraft was released from the gravity of the Earth by an Ariane 5, the European Space Agency (ESA). The most powerful heavy rocket.

Shortly after the launch of the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guinea, the camera's cameras took a series of "selfies" showing the successful deployment of its 30-meter wide solar system. radio panels and antennas.

In 2020, BepiColombo will roam the Earth at the beginning of an intricate series of overflights designed to curb the huge gravitational pull force of the sun.

The next step is Venus, as the spacecraft hovers over twice to collect data on the route, followed by six overflights of Mercury.

BepiColombo will arrive at destination on December 5, 2025. The two orbiters, one European, the other Japanese, will stand out from their "hip mothers" and begin to explore the planet.

Not only a #BepiColombo #spaceselfie but three! Captured by @BepiColombo since its launch in space at 1:45 GMT on October 20, at the start of its seven-year cruise to Mercury, the deepest planet in the solar system.

To find out more: https://t.co/kj6oN6Krfx pic.twitter.com/5nYFlUMo8C

– ESA (@esa) 22 October 2018

The Scientific Director of the ESA, Gunther Hasinger, said: "There is a long exciting road ahead before BepiColombo starts collecting data for the scientific community.

"Missions like the Rosetta mission and their revolutionary discoveries, even years after their completion, have already shown us that complex scientific exploration missions were worth it. Wait. "

A critical point will come when the futuristic electric ionic thrusters of the spacecraft are on.

This will be done automatically by the on-board computer.

BepiColombo is the first mission to use the Star Trek. impulse training style Technology to reach another planet.

It is equipped with four engines. Two shots at a time expel electrically charged xenon atoms to produce an ounce of force that can be maintained for long periods of time.

Justin Byrne, chief scientist at Airbus Defense and Space, who built the mercury transfer module carrying the orbiters to Stevenage said: "The engines will be on in a few days and it will be the crowning achievement. We then have seven years to wait for science. "