ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 43 – Science Operations
03 Sep 2006 16:55
Report for Period 27 August to 2 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 |
| 292 | 27/08/06 | 239 | 128 | Routine science operations |
| 293 | 28/08/06 | 240 | 129 | Routine science operations |
| 294 | 29/08/06 | 241 | 130 | Routine science operations |
| 295 | 30/08/06 | 242 | 131 | Routine science operations PM3 dump in support of Safe Mode investigation |
| 296 | 31/08/06 | 243 | 132 | Routine science operations |
| 297 | 01/09/06 | 244 | 133 | Routine science operations |
| 298 | 02/09/06 | 245 | 134 | Routine science operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 24515:00) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 247 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 823 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 USO un-muted took place on DOY 239 and 242.
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 STP17 have been completed successfully and the planning of STP18 was completed in time. A pre-check of the payload requests for STP19 was also successful.
Medium Term Planning
MTP007 has been completed with no major problems.
Future Milestones
Throughout the next week short term planning for CP19 and pre-checks for CP20 will commence.
An operational strategy for the upcoming solar conjunction phase in Oct /Nov 2006 is being further iterated.
