Akatsuki (spacecraft)

Akatsuki (Japaneseあかつき, German: Dawn, formerly PLANET- C, also Venus Climate Orbiter ) is a Venus probe the Japanese space agency JAXA, which is to investigate especially the atmosphere and the climate of the planet.

Mission

The production began in early 2007. During the preparation of the probe Planet -C was called, the name Akatsuki she received in October 2009. The launch was initially planned with a MV, since the production of the MV but was terminated in 2006 and the development of lower-cost successor should not be completed before 2011, they switched to an H-IIA.

30 hours have been set for a Venus orbit. The probe should be approaching the planet on its elliptical orbit to 300 km; the farthest point of the orbit would, however, amount to 80,000 km. As the inclination of the orbit 129 degrees were provided. The primary mission was scheduled for two years.

Course

On May 20, 2010 at 21:58:22 UTC clock launched the spacecraft, together with IKAROS, with an H- IIA 202 rocket to reach Venus in December 2010.

On 8 December 2010 Akatsuki should occur in 550 km altitude in the Venus orbit, but failed in this attempt, as was lost at the crucial moment of radio contact and the braking thrusters not lit correctly. In December 2016 or January 2017, it again approaches the Akatsuki Venus, so that a further attempt can be made to enter into the Venus orbit.

Construction

The three -axis stabilized spacecraft weighed at the start together with the fuel 480 kg. The empty weight is 329 kilograms, which accounts for 34 kg of scientific instruments. The tools will include five cameras: three for the infrared region, one for the ultraviolet spectrum and another, the Lightning and Airglow Camera (LAC ) to take flashes and other luminous phenomena in the atmosphere. Two infrared cameras are exploring the surface structure, the cloud temperatures and vapor concentrations. The Long Wave Infrared Camera (LIR ) is intended for the collection of data on the heights of the clouds, the particle sizes and the carbon monoxide content. The UV Imager ( UVI) is to capture the distribution of sulfur oxides and previously unknown substances in the atmosphere of Venus. In addition, the probe trial of the technology used; Thus, novel lithium -ion batteries on board.

Another special feature of the probe has thin aluminum plates on board, with the names of 260,000 people are engraved.