Venus is now a lonely planet. Japan’s space agency, JAXA, recently announced that it has ended operations of its Akatsuki spacecraft after losing contact last year. This marks the conclusion of a 15-year mission aimed at studying the planet’s weather and potential lightning activity.
Launched on May 21, 2010, Akatsuki, which means “dawn” in Japanese, departed Earth with a unique twist. Fans sent around 13,000 illustrations of the virtual idol Hatsune Miku to be included on the probe. This gave the mission a fun cultural touch, as Miku’s likeness traveled through space.
However, the mission didn’t start smoothly. Akatsuki suffered an engine failure during its approach to Venus and was forced into hibernation for nearly five years, orbiting the Sun instead. JAXA remained determined, using a secondary engine to successfully insert Akatsuki into orbit around Venus.
Once operational, Akatsuki quickly made significant discoveries. It spotted a massive curved feature in Venus’ atmosphere, stretching nearly from pole to pole. Scientists identified this phenomenon as gravity waves, created by air flowing over the planet’s mountains.
Despite its challenges, Akatsuki became Japan’s first successful mission to explore another planet. Equipped with four specialized cameras, it captured lightning in Venus’ clouds and analyzed its atmospheric layers. But in April 2024, JAXA lost communication with the spacecraft. Attempts to re-establish contact were unsuccessful, leading to the official conclusion of the mission.
Interestingly, while Akatsuki’s journey has ended, Venus won’t be without exploration for long. NASA plans to launch two missions to study the planet in the coming years. The DAVINCI probe is set for 2030, followed by the VERITAS mission in 2031. These initiatives aim to uncover how Venus, often called Earth’s twin, transformed into its current hellish state.
Insights from experts highlight the importance of these missions. Dr. Jim Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, emphasizes that studying Venus can offer valuable clues about Earth’s own climate and geological history. Understanding Venus’ harsh conditions may help us appreciate Earth’s delicate balance.
As we bid farewell to Akatsuki, there’s much anticipation for what lies ahead. Venus is still a place of mystery, and upcoming missions may finally unlock its secrets.
For more on JAXA’s findings and future plans, visit their official website here.
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