ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 45 – Science Operations
19 Sep 2006 15:55
Report for Period 10 September to 16 September 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.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | VPER# | Main Activity |
| 306 | 10/09/06 | 253 | 142 | Routine science operations |
| 307 | 11/09/06 | 254 | 143 | Routine science operations |
| 308 | 12/09/06 | 255 | 144 | Routine science operations |
| 309 | 13/09/06 | 256 | 145 | Routine science operations |
| 310 | 14/09/06 | 257 | 146 | Routine science operations |
| 311 | 15/09/06 | 258 | 147 | Routine science operations |
| 312 | 16/09/06 | 259 | 148 | Routine science operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 259, 16:00) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 251 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 838 seconds.
Payload Activities
ASPERA
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
MAG
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
PFS
The instrument is currently OFF and is not included in the routine planning. Next PFS tests in Venus pointing attitude are planned for the first 4 orbits of MTP 6 (24-27 September 2006)
SPICAV
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VeRA
The USO is nominally powered but muted.
VIRTIS
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VMC
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
Mission Planning
Short Term Planning
Operations of STP19 have been completed successfully and the planning of STP20 was completed in time. A pre-check of the payload requests for STP21 was also successful.
Medium Term Planning
The inputs for MTP08 were received and processing started.
Long Term Planning
Preparation of new FECS and BRF files, covering the period up to MTP12 next year, was started.
Future Milestones
Throughout the next week short term planning for STP21 and pre-checks for STP22 will commence.
PFS tests in Venus nadir pointing will be executed in STP21.
Planning activities for MTP08 will be performed.
An operational strategy for the upcoming solar conjunction phase in October/November 2006 will be tested in the next weeks.
