ESA Venus Express Status Report No. 83 – End of Quadrature Phase
22 Jun 2007 10:26
Report for Period 10 June to 16 June 2007
On the last day of the reporting period, the spacecraft’s 10* +Y tilt was removed as part of the ending of the quadrature operations. The tilt in the spacecraft attitude is required during the quadrature phases to prevent unacceptable illumination of the VMC.
Routine observations took place during this reporting period, and occurred as planned. A full VIRTIS software upload was carried out including the related testing on DOY 165 and 166.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | VPER# | Main Activity |
| 579 | 10/06/07 | 161 | 408 | Routine Mission Operations |
| 580 | 11/06/07 | 162 | 409 | Routine Mission Operations. |
| 581 | 12/06/07 | 163 | 410 | Routine Mission Operations. |
| 582 | 13/06/07 | 164 | 411 | Routine Mission Operations. |
| 583 | 14/06/07 | 165 | 412 | Special activities: VIRTIS S/W upload and test |
| 584 | 15/06/07 | 166 | 413 | Special activities: VIRTIS S/W test |
| 585 | 16/06/07 | 167 | 414 | Routine Mission Operations. Telemetry bitrate changed to 45 kbps. Removal of 10° +Y tilt prior to start of pass |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 167, 18:00z) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 97 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 323 seconds.
Payload Activities
ASPERA
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
MAG
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
PFS
This instrument was OFF and was not operated.
SPICAV
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VeRA
Two occultation observations were performed over New Norcia on DOY 164 and 166. A Bistatic Radar observation was performed with the 70m Canberra DSN station on DOY 163.
VIRTIS
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan. A full S/W upload and related test were carried out on DOY 165 and 166.
VMC
The instrument is operated as part of the routine plan.
Future Milestones
Uploading of the SPICAV shutter on-board control procedure (OBCP).
PFS test are being prepared to try to move the instrument’s scanner during a wheel off-loading (WOL).
