ESA - Space Science - Venus Express main engine burn starts

Space Science

About Space Science ESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth

Multimedia

Science images Science videos Animations Downloads Sounds from space

Media centre

Press Releases Press kits ESA Television

Resources

Reference section Glossary FAQs

Science missions

Services

Help Legal disclaimer Comments Subscribe

RSS feeds

ESA Sci on Twitter

News

Venus Express main engine burn starts

11 April 2006
At 09:17 CEST today, Venus Express started its main engine burn. The burn, to last 50 minutes, will slow down the spacecraft and allow the capture into orbit around Venus. The main engine burn started a few minutes after the firing of the spacecraft thrusters, to make sure the propellant settles in the feed lines to the main engine.

This thrust is aimed at reducing the initial velocity of 29 000 kilometres per hour (in relation to Venus) by 15 percent, to allow capture by the planet’s gravity. Thanks to this burn, Venus Express will settle into its preliminary, elongated nine-day orbit.

Only the spacecraft low-gain antenna, carrying a feeble but instantly recognisable signal, is transmitting throughout all VOI manoeuvres. This allows ground controllers to monitor the velocity change during the burn, using NASA’s Deep Space Network’s 70-metre antenna near Madrid, Spain. No other means of communication with the Earth is possible during the capture burn.

During the burn, at 09:45 CEST, Venus Express will disappear behind the planet and will not be visible from Earth. This is known as its ‘occultation’ period, in which the only signal coming from the spacecraft – the carrier signal from the low gain antenna - will become unavailable for ten minutes.

Send this page to a friend

News Archive

Archive

Feature

ESA astronaut C. Nicollier on voyaging to Venus VOI highlights and press conference

ESApod: Venus Express

VOI updates

Venus Express’ initial orbit matches expectations Venus Express 'talks' to Earth Venus Express main engine burn ended Venus Express reappears from behind Venus Pre-planned thrill - Venus Express disappears behind Venus Venus Express slews and prepares to ‘brake’Venus Orbit Insertion timeline Looking at Venus

ESA’s Venus Express to reach final destination

Venus within ESA probe reach And now… straight to Venus!Successful Venus Express main engine test First light for the Venus Monitoring Camera Venus Express performs flawlessly, LEOP complete Venus Express mission operations update Venus Express en route to probe the planet's hidden mysteries