ESA - Venus Express

[telfrow]

From the article: <i> "The spacecraft instruments are now being switched on one by one for detailed checking, which we will continue until mid May. Then we will operate them all together or in groups" said Don McCoy, Venus Express Project Manager. "This allows simultaneous observations of phenomena to be tested, to be ready when Venus Express' nominal science phase begins on 4 June 2006," he concluded.</i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[ihwip]

Here's one:<br /><br />http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/060413_venus_images.html<br /><br />I like the swirl. It makes me wonder how it works. When they start getting data this is really going to be huge. Venus has a greenhouse effect and I really think this mission is going to give us some insight.

 

[kane007]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Venus_Express_Commissioning_Phase_Completed.html<br />Venus Express Commissioning Phase Completed<br />Paris, France Jun 12, 2006<br /><br />Commissioning ended 2006/06/03 and now its begun its normal mission, until October 2007.

 

[3488]

There has been nothing new from Venus Express now for some time. Is there a problem with the mission, has it failed? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[spacechump]

No...not at all!<br /><br />The ESA is just not that forthcoming with information. It comes out in small doses. I'm sure they have an update pretty soon.

 

[3488]

Cheers for that, I hoped that there were no problems. Why are ESA so slow at releasing data?<br /><br />Had Venus Express been a NASA/JPL mission, they would update it daily, as with the rovers, MGS, Mars Odyssey, etc.<br /><br />That has brightened my mood somewhat. Venus is absolutely fascinating & Venus Express will complement the NASA / JPL Magellan Radar images well.<br /><br />Cant wait to see if Venus Express discovers any erupting volcanoes on Venus!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[spacechump]

ESA wants to give scientist first crack at the data returned. That include images. Unfortunately, those who follow such mission like myself seem to always be in a state of wanting.

 

[3488]

Good News. For the first time since: Tuesday 9th May 2006, ESA have at long last released some new information. <br /><br />The south polar vortex is actually a double vortex. The mission is going well, but I wish the ESA would be more open with information. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

There was some additional info on this in the July 22 issue of New Scientist:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">"A double-eyed hurrican over Venus' south pole is turning out to be even more complex than first thought. Identifying the forces that shape it could help unlock the secrets of the planet's thick atmosphere, whose runaway greenhouse effect keeps Venus scaldingly hot. <br /><br />The vortex is thought to be a product of super-strong winds that tear westward around the planet. What is not understood yet is why the winds produce a double vortex, not a single one.<br /><br />'We are building a true 3D view of the vortex,' says Giuseppe Piccioni of the Institute of Astrophysics and Cosmological Physics (IASF) in Rome, Italy, of the images taken by the European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft in April."</font><br /><br />Well actually, I guess there is no new info, because it simply says. Wooo hooo, there's a double vortex there and we have no idea why. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rhodan]

From Astronomy Picture of the Day:<ul type="square">Humanity now has a spacecraft orbiting Venus. The robotic Venus Express spacecraft launched by the European Space Agency in 2005 November arrived at Venus in 2006 April. Venus Express is now orbiting Earth's sister planet and returning pictures. Pictured above is a false-color, time-lapse movie in ultraviolet light captured by the Venus Express spacecraft as it flew over Venus' northern hemisphere in late May. Venus Express is scheduled to orbit Venus for three years and collect data that might help in answering questions that include why Venus continually generates hurricane-force winds, why Venus became so hot in the past, and if there is any current volcanic activity on Venus. It is hoped that a better understanding of Venus's hot and inhospitable climate will help humanity better understand Earth's climate as well.</ul><br />

 

[3488]

Nice Infrared image taken by the Ultraviolet/Visible/Near-Infrared spectrometer (VIRTIS) on board ESA’s Venus Express, provides a close-up view of the double-eyed vortex at Venus south pole. Monday 29th May 2006. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[brandbll]

are there any more vehicles from the Venus Express yet? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="3">You wanna talk some jive? I'll talk some jive. I'll talk some jive like you've never heard!</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

"Why are ESA so slow at releasing data? "<br /><br />The data is released at the same rate as for NASA, typically in batches in six monthly intervals. They are much slower than NASA is in releasing images to the press. That is largely because of a minsicule PR budget.<br /><br />Also remember that VEx has only just started the formal data collection mission phase. Up to now it has been adjusting its orbit and calibrating its instruments. So not much data to release. Rather like Mars Observer. Not much to see there yet either. <br /><br />As for the volcanoes, I believe the main instrument for finding these, the PFS, is unfortunately not working. <br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Just bumping this so we don't end up with two threads. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Good Idea jmilsom. Perhaps one of the Moderators could pin this thread as the mission will progress, hence more to talk about (hopefully).<br /><br />In response to: Jon Clarke:<br /><br />"As for the volcanoes, I believe the main instrument for finding these, the PFS, is unfortunately not working".<br /><br />Dear Jon, not only is this unfortunate, it is IMO nothing short of being disastrous (for someone interested in Planetary Science as myself). The PFS was to have been able to image any erupting lava, most likely from summit craters, lava lakes & hot, still flowing lava flows.<br /><br />This information would be vital if we are ever to understand the internal heat flow from Venus, possible minerological make of any erupting lava & current state of internal Cythereological activity. This also would have hed some light on the global Venus resurfacing event, thought to have occured about 500 million years ago (based on the global distribution of impact craters).<br /><br />Lets hope that ESA can fix this instrument soon. I do not know if the other IR cameras could also carry out at least part of this task?<br /><br />For me, the mission is largely a failure (as my main interest in this is Venus Geology or Cythereology, being Venus) if the PFS is not working.<br /><br />Really therefore Venus Express is not much more than a Venus orbiting Weather satellite (interesting & important I know, but IMO does not make up for the loss of the PFS). <br /><br />Really a lander should be sent, complete with panoramic cameras, a seismometer & a microphone. It may last only a few hours (perhaps longer with modern materials & methods) before being destroyed by the hellish conditions (457 Celsius & 95 atmospheres), but it would tell much.<br /><br />The SOviet Veneras were IMO the right way forward for surface studies & Magellan for Cythereomorphological studies (shape of & general morphology of Venus).<br /><br />Venus Express HOPEFULLY will provide evidence of ongo <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[dragon04]

Bump <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[3488]

There has been no new news for a while now.<br /><br />Lets hope they have fixed the PFS.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

"Cyretheomorphology" Ha! Someone who knows the correct terminology! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

What it means actually?

 

[bdewoody]

I'm beginning to wonder what, if anything, this probe is doing. Has it been idle over the last 2 months? If the ESA has discovered anything new they sure are keeping quiet about it. Or do they not have enough resources to analyze data from Venus Express and Cassini at the same time? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[mithridates]

Me too. Here's what they've got on Venustoday.com:<br /><br />ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 46 - Safe Mode Recovery<br /> [Thursday, October 5, 2006] The reporting period contained a spacecraft hardware safe which occurred on 22 September (DoY 265) at 19:24 UT.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />»» ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 45 - Science Operations<br /> [Thursday, October 5, 2006] During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted according to the plan. The ground and the space segment performance have been nominal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />»» ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 44 - Science Operations<br /> [Thursday, October 5, 2006] During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted according to the plan. The ground and the space segment performance have been nominal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />»» ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 43 - Science Operations<br /> [Thursday, October 5, 2006] During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted according to the plan. The ground and the space segment performance have been nominal.<br /><br />Yawn. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>

 

[mithridates]

There, I just sent them off a quick email. Everybody else is invited to do the same. They shouldn't be permitted to be so boring.<br /><br />contactesa@esa.int<br /><br />Unless there's a better email address, that is. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>

 

[flynn]

<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I'll be very interested to hear how you get on. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

If this were a NASA mission everyone would be saying they are hiding something. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Yes. How long can one sit on the edge of their seat. I am really looking forward to some new images and date. All the fuss about the South Pole vortex then ..... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>