ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 64 – Earth Occultation Observations
07 Feb 2007 10:33
Report for Period 28 January to 3 February 2007
During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted according to the plan. Science operations have been nominal. Radio science activities with the New Norcia ground station have been conducted as planned.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | VPER# | Main Activity |
| 446 | 28/01/07 | 028 | 282 | Routine Mission Operations |
| 447 | 29/01/07 | 029 | 283 | Routine Mission Operations |
| 448 | 30/01/07 | 030 | 284 | Routine Mission Operations |
| 449 | 31/01/07 | 031 | 285 | Routine Mission Operations |
| 450 | 01/02/07 | 032 | 286 | Routine Mission Operations; Special dump recovery activity |
| 451 | 02/02/07 | 033 | 287 | Routine Mission Operations; Short pass due to Cebreros maintenance |
| 452 | 03/02/07 | 034 | 288 | Routine Mission Operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 034, 17:00z) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 224 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 747 seconds.
Payloads
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 USO has been unmuted on DoY 028 and 031 to conduct the planned Earth occultation observations. The two radio science observations have been supported by the New Norcia ground station.
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 STP039 were executed successfully and the planning of STP040 was completed in time.
Medium Term Planning
MTP013 PTRs were delayed by one week.
Long Term Planning
A set of Long Term Planning products (FECS and Bit Rate File) were produced this week and delivered to the Venus Express Science Operations Centre for processing. The FECS file, contains the list of the downlink and radio science opportunities from the available ground stations.
Future Milestones
The definition and testing of operations during quadrature is on-going; the next quadrature phase will start in May 2007.
