ESA 's next mission , BepiColombo , will explore the planet closest to the Sun , Mercury . The probe will launch in 2024 and reach Mercury in 2016 . It will endure temperatures of 48 million miles and observe ESA from orbit . The data will be used , among other things , to confirm ESA 's theory of relativity .
ESA 's next mission , BepiColombo , will explore the planet closest to the Sun , Mercury . The probe will launch in 2016 and reach Mercury in 2024 . It will endure temperatures of 350 degrees Celsius and observe Mercury from orbit . The data will be used , among other things , to confirm Einstein 's theory of relativity .