Venus Express enters orbit

13 April 2006

After a five-month journey, Venus Express blasted into the orbit of our nearest neighbouring planet this week. Scientists hope the mission will tell us how Venus evolved to become a toxic hothouse, overwhelmed by runaway global warming.

Antenna reaches for the stars...

This artist's impression shows Venus Express swinging into orbit around Venus.

Image: ESA

Venus Express is the first spacecraft Europe has sent to Venus. During its 486 day mission, the unmanned probe will orbit Venus looking at its climate and atmosphere. Scientists hope this will help us understand why our sister planet is so different from our own.
To enter Venus's orbit, the wardrobe-sized spacecraft fired its main engine for exactly 49 minutes, slowing it down enough to be captured by the planet's gravity.

Broadband Version

Watch this animation showing Venus Express blasting into orbit.

Video: ESA

The timing for the manoeuvre had to be perfect:

'If the engine stops mid-burn we'd have quite a problem. The spacecraft would fly past the planet.'
Don McCoy, Venus Express Project Manager

Don McCoy, Venus Express Project Manager

Image: ESA

This 'handbrake turn' around Venus put the spacecraft out of contact with Earth for a nerve-racking 10 minutes. The mission control room in Germany erupted into cheers and applause when it safely reappeared.
'It's a fantastic moment for us - we've finally reached Venus. Now we can start taking observations.'
Don McCoy

Flight Director Manfred Warhaut reports live from the Mission Control Room in Darmstadt, Germany.

Image: ESA

The hellish climate on Venus is down to a runaway Greenhouse effect which traps in heat. Scientists hope what they learn from Venus Express can solve some mysteries about global warming.

Image: ESA

Why are we so interested in Venus?

Venus is a similar size to Earth, and it's closer to us than any other planet. But though it's our nearest neighbour, it's more like our worst nightmare.

Venus, Earth and Mars.

Image: Lunar and Planetary Institute


Venus, Earth and Mars are all found in an area of space known as the 'Goldilocks Zone' - where it's not too hot, and not too cold.
But the climate on Venus is far from pleasant. There is virtually no water or oxygen to be found, and the skies are always overcast with acid clouds. If you were to walk on the surface of Venus you would be simultaneously crushed by the atmospheric pressure, dissolved by the sulphuric acid, and suffocated by the lack of oxygen.
Perhaps worse is the extreme global warming, which drives temperatures up to 450 degrees Celsius. By learning about how global warming affects our nearest neighbour, scientists hope to understand our own planet better - especially important when things are heating up here on Earth.

This artist's impression shows what the surface of Venus might look like.

Image: ESA

Scientists are intrigued about why Venus evolved so differently from Earth:

'Venus was born around the same time as Earth, and using the same materials. You'd think they should be quite similar but they're not.
'We want to find out the history of Venus, and how it is different to the history of Earth, and to find out if Venus was once like Earth. Is Venus what the end state of Earth's evolution will be like.'
Colin Wilson, space scientist, University of Oxford

Colin Wilson, space scientist, University of Oxford

Image: Colin Wilson

Venus Express is kitted out with gadgets called spectrometers that will peer through the clouds of Venus. At different wavelengths of light the spectrometers will be able to 'see' further through the clouds.
'The spectrometers take pictures of different wavelengths of light coming from Venus. With visible light we can make out the cloud tops. With UV light we can see cloud features. Infrared allows us to see below the clouds, and using radar we can actually see the surface.'
Colin Wilson

Spectrometers like this aboard Venus Express will help scientists learn what is going on beneath the clouds on Venus.

Image: SwRI/MSSL

Space scientists are also hoping that Venus Express will prove whether there are active volcanoes on Venus. No-one really knows - but the thick atmosphere on Venus is good evidence for volcanism.
Venus Express will orbit Venus for two days - two Venusians days, that is. Because Venus rotates so slowly, one day on Venus is 243 days on Earth.

The atmosphere on Venus is very thick but because the planet has no magnetic poles this atmosphere drifts away. Scientists think active volcanoes might replenish the atmosphere.

Image: ESA

The rocket Soyuz-Fregat carrying Venus Express lifts off from Kazakhstan.

Image: ESA

There's no doubt Venus Express has travelled a long way since its launch from Kazakhstan last November. And Antenna looks forward to hearing a lot more from the mission over the next few months.
For more information about the mission, visit:
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