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A British-built spacecraft fitted with Star Trek-style 'impulse engines' is on its way to Mercury, the planet closest to the sun.
BepiColombo was blasted into space from the European space port at Kourou, French Guiana, at about 2.45am UK time on Saturday.
It was carried on top of an Ariane 5, the European Space Agency's (ESA's) most powerful rocket.
In 2025 it will place two probes, one European the other Japanese, in orbit around Mercury, the least explored world in the solar system.
Four Star Trek-style 'impulse engines', two firing at a time, will emit beams of electrically charged, or 'ionised', xenon gas to propel the spacecraft throughout its mission.
The ion thrusters will be operating for 4.5 years during the seven-year trip to Earth's closest planet.