Humanity’s last mission to Venus, the Akatsuki spacecraft, is officially inactive. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that Akatsuki went silent on October 28, over a year after it stopped responding to control signals.
This mission changed how we view Venus, shedding light on its harsh conditions—extreme temperatures and crushing atmospheric pressure—compared to Earth. JAXA highlighted that Akatsuki produced 178 research papers and lasted three times its expected lifespan of 4.5 years.
Launched in 2010, Akatsuki faced significant challenges, including a main engine failure that prevented it from entering orbit on its first attempt. It took a second, creative approach in 2015 using less powerful thrusters to successfully secure its orbit. JAXA noted that this was a groundbreaking achievement, showing that exploration often requires rethinking what’s possible.
Akatsuki explored Venus for nearly a decade, aiming to understand its climate. The probe focused on the planet’s cloud layers, which are about 30 to 43 miles (50 to 70 kilometers) above the surface. Venus has surface temperatures that can melt lead, making previous landing missions unsuccessful.
In a remarkable insight, JAXA observed winds in the upper atmosphere reaching speeds comparable to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains. This phenomenon, known as “super rotation,” means clouds can circle Venus in less than four Earth days, despite the planet’s slow rotation, which lasts 243 days.
Research from Akatsuki suggested that these fast winds might be driven by solar heating. This finding could influence our understanding of other worlds. Several recently discovered exoplanets may be tidally locked—one side always facing their sun. Understanding how Venus manages its atmosphere could provide clues about the potential habitability of these worlds.
Overall, Akatsuki’s legacy lies in its scientific contributions despite the challenges it faced. Two of its instruments ceased functioning a year after entering orbit, but four remained operational when contact was lost. Among its discoveries was a unique atmospheric wave pattern, likely caused by the planet’s mountainous terrain.
Future missions to Venus are on the horizon. NASA is developing missions such as DAVINCI, which aims to penetrate the atmosphere, and VERITAS, which will explore the planet’s surface and geology. The European Space Agency is also planning EnVision to study Venus’s atmosphere and internal structure.
However, these projects face uncertainties due to budgetary cuts proposed by the U.S. government. Current debates around funding continue as the nation navigates a government shutdown, leaving the fate of these missions in limbo.
As humanity reflects on Akatsuki’s achievements, its journey reminds us of the enduring spirit of exploration and the quest for knowledge about our solar system and beyond.
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