European Space Agency prepares for back-to-back flybys of Venus

Missions with Nasa and Jaxa will use planet's pull to lose energy, allowing spacecraft to fall closer to sun

The European Space Agency is preparing for back-to-back flybys of the same planet by two different spacecraft just one day apart.

On 9 August, the Esa-Nasa Solar Orbiter spacecraft will fly past Venus with a closest approach of 7,995km (4,968 miles). A day later, the Esa-Jaxa BepiColombo mission will make its pass at an altitude of just 550km (342 miles).