Japan gives nod to first attempt to land on Mercury: BBC

TOKYO (AFP) Jun 25, 2003
A Japanese government committee has approved a space mission to the planet Mercury, the BBC reported early on Thursday.

The joint venture between the Japanese and European space agencies, scheduled for launch in about seven years' time, will be the first attempt to land on the planet, the BBC said on its website.

The approval by Japan's space activities committee means the mission should go ahead in 2010.

Japanese officials were not available for comment early Thursday.

Only one probe has so far visited Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system. Scientists believe the dense, rocky planet could hold the key to understanding how the solar system was formed.

SPACE.WIRE