ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 44 – Science Operations
18 Sep 2006 09:11
Report for Period 3 September to 9 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 |
| 299 | 03/09/06 | 246 | 135 | Routine science operations |
| 300 | 04/09/06 | 247 | 136 | Routine science operations CEB XSSA test |
| 301 | 05/09/06 | 248 | 137 | Routine science operations |
| 302 | 06/09/06 | 249 | 138 | Routine science operations CEB XSSA test |
| 303 | 07/09/06 | 250 | 139 | Routine science operations PM3 RAM dump in support of Safe Mode investigation |
| 304 | 08/09/06 | 251 | 140 | Routine science operations SPS PIT for DSS-65 |
| 305 | 09/09/06 | 252 | 141 | Routine science operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 252, 16:00) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 249 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 830 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 STP18 have been completed successfully and the planning of STP19 was completed in time. A pre-check of the payload requests for STP20 was also successful.
Long Term Planning
DSN provided first cleared Station Allocation File (SAF) for week 41 (VERA solar corona passes).
A proposal for New Norcia station booking for OCC-3 and GRA-2 campaign in May-June 2007 has been provided to Rosetta and Mars Express for iteration.
Future Milestones
Throughout the next week short term planning for CP20 and pre-checks for CP21 will commence.
An operational strategy for the upcoming solar conjunction phase in October/November 2006 is being further iterated.
