Akatsuki probe attempts to enter Venus orbit

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/12/04/akatsuki-spaceship-japan-venus/76812818/

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/12/07/national/science-health/jaxa-plans-fire-probes-thrusters-second-attempt-venus-orbit/

 

[Arjen]

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Briliant. Fingers crossed.

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.space.com/31300-japan-akatsuki-spacecraft-venus-orbit-try.html

Here's hoping.

 

[fredymac]

Seems to have worked although that 400km by 440,000km orbit might be a bit oblong.

http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/12/20151209_akatsuki.html

 

[Grey Havoc]

ORIGINAL CAPTION: Venus in ultraviolet from 684,000 miles(1.1 million kilometers) away. Image credit: JAXA

http://gizmodo.com/confirmed-akatsuki-is-in-orbit-around-venus-1746553195​

 

[TomS]

Seems to have worked although that 400km by 440,000km orbit might be a bit oblong.

http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/12/20151209_akatsuki.html

From the image at that link, they'll be lowering the apoasis a bit (down to around 310,000 km) over the next few days. Not bad for just using the RCS thrusters, really.

 

[Hobbes]

Seems to have worked although that 400km by 440,000km orbit might be a bit oblong.

http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/12/20151209_akatsuki.html

They knew going in they were going to end up with an orbit like that, there's not enough fuel to circularize the orbit.

 

[blackkite]

Hi!
http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/planet_c/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81Liuv9YeeI