Venus is now devoid of active robotic presence following Japan's conclusion of the 15-year long 'Dawn' mission.
In a significant turn of events, Japan's space agency, JAXA, has brought an end to the operations of the Akatsuki Venus orbiter, marking the conclusion of a mission that spanned over a decade. Launched by JAXA in May 2010, Akatsuki was designed to operate for just four-and-a-half years, but it continued to function beyond that period, providing valuable data about Venus.
Akatsuki started sending images a couple of days after entering Venus orbit in December 2015. The spacecraft captured a significant amount of data that scientists used to produce hundreds of scholarly works, shedding light on Venus's climate, atmosphere, and geology.
However, in April 2024, Akatsuki malfunctioned, and efforts to stabilise its orbit failed, causing JAXA to lose contact with the spacecraft. In 2016, some of Akatsuki's cameras became difficult for JAXA to control due to electrical problems. As a precautionary measure, JAXA shut down two of Akatsuki's five cameras to protect the orbiter.
Despite these challenges, Akatsuki's mission has paved the way for future explorations. JAXA is planning a mission related to Venus with CubeSat deployments from the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025, indicating active involvement in Venus exploration in the coming decade.
Akatsuki's journey was not without setbacks. It was intended to enter Venus orbit in December 2010, but its main engine failed during a twelve-minute burn, causing it to orbit the Sun instead. After a long wait, Akatsuki successfully entered Venus orbit in December 2015.
As Akatsuki bids farewell, it leaves behind a rich legacy of scientific discoveries and a renewed interest in Venus exploration. JAXA's upcoming mission promises to build upon this foundation, furthering our understanding of Venus and its unique characteristics.
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