The European and Japanese BepiColombo spacecraft have separated from their main cruiser and entered the final stage of their nearly decade-long journey to Mercury.

The spacecraft, launched in 2018, has traveled more than 6 billion miles and completed nine planetary flybys to slow down enough to enter Mercury’s orbit.

BepiColombo is expected to reach Mercury’s orbit in November, with the two scientific orbiters separating in December and beginning research next spring.

The mission will study Mercury’s magnetic field, interior, surface geology and unusual surface features known as hollows, the AP has reported.

BepiColombo is only the second mission ever sent to study Mercury and is designed to withstand the planet’s extreme temperatures near the Sun.