JAXA - Venus Climate Orbiter ‘AKATSUKI’ Planet-C patch.
Venus Climate Orbiter ‘AKATSUKI’ Venus Observation Orbit Injection (VOI-1) Result
December 8, 2010 (JST)
The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA) performed Venus orbit insertion maneuver (VOI-1) for the Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI” at 8:49 a.m. on December 7 (Japan Standard Time,) but, unfortunately, we have found that the orbiter was not injected into the planned orbit as a result of orbit estimation.
Venus Climate Orbiter ‘AKATSUKI’ Planet-C spacecraft
The “AKATSUKI” was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on May 21, 2010 (JST.)
JAXA has set up an investigation team led by ISAS Director within JAXA to study the cause of the failure. We will update you with the countermeasures and investigation results.
Mission website:
AKATSUKI Special Site: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/index_e.html
Venus Climate Orbiter AKATSUKI (PLANET-C): http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/planet_c/index_e.html
Images, Text, Credits: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Cheers, Orbiter.ch