ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 58 Catching a Solar Flare
22 Dec 2006 09:55
Report for Period 9 December to 16 December 2006
During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted according to the plan.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | VPER# | Main Activity |
| 397 | 10/12/06 | 344 | 233 | Routine mission operations |
| 398 | 11/12/06 | 345 | 234 | Routine mission operations |
| 399 | 12/12/06 | 346 | 235 | Routine Mission operations run on VEMCB |
| 400 | 13/12/06 | 347 | 236 | Routine mission operations run on VEMCB |
| 401 | 14/12/06 | 348 | 237 | Routine mission operations run on VEMCB |
| 402 | 15/12/06 | 349 | 238 | Routine mission operations. Shortened pass due to monthly maintenance at CEB. Operations swapped to VEMCA configured as prime. |
| 403 | 16/12/06 | 350 | 239 | Routine mission operations |
| 404 | 17/12/06 | 351 | 240 | Routine mission operations |
| 405 | 18/12/06 | 352 | 241 | Routine mission operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 350, 16:00z) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 247 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 825.5 seconds.
Spacecraft Status
On 5 and 6 December flight dynamics reported noisy Doppler data – which is likely caused by a solar flare.
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The influence of a solar flare on the Doppler data |
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
This instrument is OFF and is not operated.
SPICAV
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VeRA
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
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
POR pre check was performed for STP034, STP035, STP 036 and STP037.
Medium Term Planning
The planning for MTP012 has been completed successfully, the activities have been approved.
Long Term Planning
Finally a decision has been taken to request DSN support for the “movie”observation. This will be confirmed in a later report.
Future Milestones
The second Earth occultation season has started with additional Radio Science operations with the ESA New Norcia station.
Planning of the entire Christmas period will be completed this week (STPs 34 through 37, plus MTPs 11 and 12).
