This week Venus is visited by back-to-back spacecraft from the European Space Agency. The double flyby will provide an “unprecedented” opportunity to study the environment of Venus from different locations, according to an ESA statement.

ESA and NASA will join forces to fly Solar Orbiter by Venus on Monday. The spacecraft will be approximately 7,995 km (4,968 mi) from Venus’ surface at its closest point.

BepiColombo will fly closer to ESA on Tuesday at an altitude just 550 km (341 miles).

But, Venus is not the final destination for either spacecraft.

The two spacecraft can swing by the planet to receive what is known as a “gravitational assistance.” Although it can sometimes be used to propel a spacecraft into further space, this maneuver is used to slow down and lose orbital energy in order to avoid spacecraft overshooting.ESA stated that their destinations were located at the center solar system.

Solar Orbiter’s mission is to capture the first images of the sun’s poles. This is something ESA believes is essential to understand how the sun works, and to predict space weather. After the initial flyby,Solar Orbiter will return from Venus’ orbit during its mission. It will use gravity to tilt or alter its orbit until it reaches the correct orbital angle to photograph both poles of sun.

Mercury, the closest planet to the sun is the destination of the BepiColombo mission. According to ESA, it will need to harness the gravity of Venus to steer Mercury into its orbit and counter the enormous gravitational force of the sun.

ESA stated that black-and-white images taken from flybys by BepiColombo’s three surveillance cameras will be made available in batches. They will be made public on August 10, 11 and 11.

ESA stated that high-resolution imagery will not be possible because the Solar Orbiter science camera must face the sun and BepiColombo’s main camera is protected by the transfer module, which will deliver two planetary orbiters from Mercury.

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According to the administration, it was determined to stop the rise of terrorist threats by maintaining warplanes at bases in the Persian Gulf as well as counterterrorism capabilities elsewhere than Afghanistan. Biden has promised to provide financial, diplomatic and other support for the Afghan government.

Mr. Biden stated Tuesday that Afghan leaders must come together. They must fight for their country, for their rights.

Others within the administration questioned the idea that a small U.S. force numbering in the thousands could have stopped or stalled the Taliban advance.

According to Pentagon officials, the Taliban’s quick takeover of large swathes of Afghanistan was planned for years. They had to set up forces all over the country, ready to attack provincial capitals as soon the U.S.-led alliance announced its withdrawal.