Icyogajuru BepiColombo cyoherejwe mu bushakashatsi ku mubumbe wa Mercure, urugendo rwa kilometero miliyari zirinzdwi rwitezweho kuzafata imyaka irindwi.
BepiColombo yoherejwe mu kirere iturutse muri Amerika y’Epfo, yitwaje ibikoresho bibiri bizwi nka “sondes’ birimo icyakorewe mu Kigo gishinzwe ibirebana n’ibyogajuru mu Burayi, ESA na Jaxa yo mu Buyapani.
Iki cyogajuru gifite ubushobozi bwo kubaho imyaka 8.5, cyitezweho kohereza ku Isi amakuru atandukanye ku bibazo byibazwa ku mubumbe wa Mercure uzwiho gushyuha cyane.
Prof Dave Rothery wo muri Open University mu Bwongereza yabwiye BBC ko nta byinshi bizwi ku buryo umubumbe wa Mercure wabayeho, kandi igihe cyose batarawusobanukirwa bigoye kumenya ukuri kuzuye ku birebana n’Isi.
U Burayi n’u Buyapani byohereje icyogajuru kuri Mercure, nyuma y’aho mu 1970, Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika zoherejeyo icyitwa Mariner.
Mariner yatumye haboneka amakuru make kuri Mercure arimo kuba uyu mubumbe uriho amazi ariko yahindutse urubura, ndetse n’ibuye risa n’irikoreshwa mu ikaramu y’igiti (graphite).
Umubumbe wa Mercure uherereye mu kilometero miliyoni 58 uvuye ku Izuba. Abahanga mu bumenyi bw’ikirere bavuga ko Izuba rihagera rikubye inshuro 10 irigera ku Isi.