Japanese probe fails to enter Venus orbit
Posted: Wed, Dec 8, 2010, 6:14 AM ET (1114 GMT)
A Japanese spacecraft has failed to enter orbit around Venus this week as planned, the Japanese space agency JAXA announced Wednesday. The Akatsuki spacecraft, launched in May, was scheduled to fire its thruster Tuesday to go into orbit around Venus, but communication was lost with the spacecraft and it was unclear if the spacecraft was in orbit and operational. JAXA announced Wednesday that Akatsuki failed to go into orbit, although the spacecraft did appear to be functioning. Officials said it would be possible to try the orbit insertion again in six years, when the spacecraft next approaches Venus.The spacecraft, Japan's first mission to Venus, is designed to study the planet's dense atmosphere.
A Japanese spacecraft has failed to enter orbit around Venus this week as planned, the Japanese space agency JAXA announced Wednesday. The Akatsuki spacecraft, launched in May, was scheduled to fire its thruster Tuesday to go into orbit around Venus, but communication was lost with the spacecraft and it was unclear if the spacecraft was in orbit and operational. JAXA announced Wednesday that Akatsuki failed to go into orbit, although the spacecraft did appear to be functioning. Officials said it would be possible to try the orbit insertion again in six years, when the spacecraft next approaches Venus.The spacecraft, Japan's first mission to Venus, is designed to study the planet's dense atmosphere.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Pentagon places head of Space Development Agency on leave for investigation
Posted: Sun, Jan 19 10:25 AM ET (1525 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, January 21
Aegis Aerospace sending payload on the moon on Firefly mission
Houston Business Journal — 6:46 am ET (1146 GMT) Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base re-scheduled for Tuesday
KGET-TV Bakersfield, CA — 6:45 am ET (1145 GMT) Blue Origin goes orbital
Royal Aeronautical Society — 6:44 am ET (1144 GMT) SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit
UPI — 6:43 am ET (1143 GMT) Hawaiians, South Texans worry about more Starship launches
San Antonio Express-News — 6:41 am ET (1141 GMT) |
