ESA Venus Express Status No. 39 – Ongoing Science Plan – Report for Period 8 August 2006
08 Aug 2006 14:17
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 |
| 264 | 30/07/06 | 211 | 100 | Routine science operations |
| 265 | 31/07/06 | 212 | 101 | Routine science operations Occultation1 Radio Science Operations |
| 266 | 01/08/06 | 213 | 102 | Routine science operations |
| 267 | 02/08/06 | 214 | 103 | Routine science operations |
| 268 | 03/08/06 | 215 | 104 | Routine science operations Re-dump of VIRTIS M-science lost in previou pass |
| 269 | 04/08/06 | 216 | 105 | TM bit rate change to 76.2 kps |
| 270 | 05/08/06 | 217 | 106 | Routine science operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 217, 14:00 UT) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 232 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 773 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. Occultation observations with the USO un-muted took place on DOY212 and 216.
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 STP14 have been completed successfully and the planing of STP14 was completed in time.
A pre-check of the payload requests for STP15 was also successful.
Medium Term Planning
MTP005 re-planning is now complete and covers several issues including:
- Re-plan of Vera observations of occultation to correct the insufficient margins taken before and after occultation
- Reduction of 2 Cebreros passes (2006-246 and 2006-263) and 1 New Norcia pass (2006-245) following a late request for support by Mars Express
Future Milestones
Throughout the next week short term planning activities for CP15 will be completed, and the prechecks of the CP16 will be performed. The processing of MTP6 inputs will continue. The IMP swap activity (to prevent degradation) is currently scheduled for 9 August.
An operational strategy for the upcoming solar conjunction phase in Oct /Nov 2006 will be developed throughout the coming weeks.
