TOKYO: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Venus Climate Orbiter, nicknamed Ataksuki (which means “dawn” in Japanese), has sent back images of the planet Venus — and finally completing the mission it failed to properly execute the first time around.
The spacecraft first launched in May 2010 with the objective of completing a mission to Venus, where the orbiter would study the planet’s atmosphere. Unfortunately, due to a failed orbital insertion maneuver caused by one of the craft’s engines failing to power for the appropriate amount of time needed for completion, Akatsuki did not fulfill its objective.
After a series of recovery efforts over the past five years, Akatsuki finally made it into the planet’s gravitational pull on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and has remained in orbit with no mechanical hiccups so far, confirmed JAXA. Scientists were initially concerned its equipment had been damaged by heat from the sun during it’s wanderings, or would not work since the probe had been scheduled for a two-year mission before an engine malfunction threw it off-course. As of now, the spacecraft has a projected orbit period of 13 days and 14 hours, with an expected adjustment from the agency for a nine day period.
The craft also sent back an image of the planet from its first day in orbit. While the photo is no New Horizons flyby pic, it captures the miasmic nature of Venus’ atmosphere, which contains heavily toxic gases that give the planet its yellow tint.
To engender the success of the VCO’s mission, JAXA is currently encouraging fans of the orbiter’s voyage to send in their support.
