View source for Venus Express

{{Short description|European orbiter mission to Venus (2005–2015)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = ''Venus Express''
| image                 = Venus Express in orbit (crop).jpg
| image_size            = 300px
| image_caption         = ''Venus Express'' in orbit

<!--Basic details-->
| mission_type          = [[Venus]] orbiter
| operator              = [[European Space Agency]]
| COSPAR_ID             = 2005-045A
| SATCAT                = 28901
| website               = {{url|http://www.esa.int/venus}}
| mission_duration      = Planned: 2 years <br/> Final: {{time interval|9 Nov 2005|18 Jan 2015|sep=,}}

<!--Spacecraft properties-->
| manufacturer          = [[EADS Astrium]]
| launch_mass           = {{convert|1270|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="factsheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Venus_Express/Venus_Express_factsheet |title=Venus Express Factsheet |publisher=European Space Agency |date=1 June 2014 |access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref>
| dry_mass              = {{cvt|700|kg|lb}}<ref name="factsheet" />
| payload_mass          = {{cvt|93|kg|lb}}<ref name="factsheet" />
| dimensions            = {{convert|1.5|xx|1.8|xx|1.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="factsheet" />
| power                 = 1,100 watts<ref name="factsheet" />

<!--Launch details-->
| launch_date           = {{start-date|9 November 2005, 03:33:34}}&nbsp;[[UTC]]<ref name=VEX>{{cite book|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/beyond-earth-tagged.pdf|title=Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958–2016|last1=Siddiqi|first1=Asif|publisher=NASA History Program Office|edition=second|year=2018}}</ref>
| launch_rocket         = [[Soyuz-FG]]/[[Fregat]]
| launch_site           = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]] [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31/6]]
| launch_contractor     = [[Starsem]]

<!--end of mission-->
| disposal_type         = Deorbited
| last_contact          = {{end-date|18 January 2015, 15:01:55}}&nbsp;[[UTC]]<ref name="esa20150123">{{cite web |last1=Scuka |first1=Daniel |title=Venus Express: The Last Shout |url=http://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2015/01/23/venus-express-the-last-shout/ |publisher=European Space Agency |date=23 January 2015 |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>
| decay_date            = January{{\}}February 2015

<!--orbit parameters-->
| orbit_reference       = [[cytherocentric orbit|Cytherocentric]]
| orbit_semimajor       = 
| orbit_eccentricity    = 
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|460|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="vex-venturing">{{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/venus-express/54915-venturing-into-the-upper-atmosphere-of-venus/ |title=Venturing into the upper atmosphere of Venus |publisher=European Space Agency |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref>
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|63000|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="vex-venturing"/>
| orbit_inclination     = 90&nbsp;degrees<ref name="vex-oporbit">{{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/venus-express/37357-operational-orbit/ |title=Operational Orbit |publisher=European Space Agency |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref>
| orbit_period          = 24 hours<ref name="vex-oporbit"/>
| apsis                 = cytherion

|interplanetary         = 
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = orbiter
   |object              = [[Venus]]
   |arrival_date        = 11 April 2006
 }}

| insignia              = File:Venus Express insignia.png
| insignia_caption      = ESA Solar System insignia for the ''Venus Express'' mission
| insignia_alt          = Venus Express mission insignia
| insignia_size         = 180px
}}

'''''Venus Express''''' ('''VEX''') was the first [[Venus]] exploration mission of the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA). Launched in November 2005, it arrived at Venus in April 2006 and began continuously sending back science data from its polar orbit around Venus. Equipped with seven scientific instruments, the main objective of the mission was the long term observation of the [[Venusian atmosphere]]. The observation over such long periods of time had never been done in previous missions to Venus, and was key to a better understanding of the atmospheric dynamics. ESA concluded the mission in December 2014.<ref name="esa20141216">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Venus_Express/Venus_Express_goes_gently_into_the_night |title=Venus Express goes gently into the night |publisher=European Space Agency |first1=Markus |last1=Bauer |first2=Håkan |last2=Svedhem |first3=Adam |last3=Williams |first4=Patrick |last4=Martin |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref>

==History==
The mission was proposed in 2001 to reuse the design of the ''[[Mars Express]]'' mission. However, some mission characteristics led to [[design]] changes: primarily in the areas of thermal control, communications and electrical power. For example, since [[Mars]] is approximately twice as far from the [[Sun]] as Venus, the radiant heating of the spacecraft is four times greater for ''Venus Express'' than ''Mars Express''. Also, the [[ionizing radiation]] environment is harsher. On the other hand, the more intense illumination of the [[Photovoltaic module|solar panels]] results in more generated [[solar cell|photovoltaic]] power. The ''Venus Express'' mission also uses some spare instruments developed for the ''[[Rosetta space probe|Rosetta]]'' spacecraft. The mission was proposed by a consortium led by D. Titov (Germany), E. Lellouch (France) and F. Taylor (United Kingdom).

The [[launch window]] for ''Venus Express'' was open from 26 October to 23 November 2005, with the launch initially set for 26 October 4:43 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]. However, problems with the insulation from the Fregat upper stage led to a two-week launch delay to inspect and clear out the small insulation debris that migrated on the spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEM2714J2FE_0.html |title=Venus Express preliminary investigations bring encouraging news |date=25 October 2005 |publisher=ESA |access-date=9 May 2006}}</ref> It was eventually launched by a [[Soyuz-FG]]/[[Fregat]] rocket from the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in [[Kazakhstan]] on 9 November 2005 at 03:33:34 UTC into a parking Earth orbit and 1&nbsp;h 36&nbsp;min after launch put into its transfer orbit to Venus. A first trajectory correction maneuver was successfully performed on 11 November 2005. It arrived at Venus on 11 April 2006, after 153 days of journey, and fired its main engine between 07:10:29 and 08:00:42 [[UTC]] [[Spacecraft Event Time|SCET]] to reduce its velocity so that it could be captured by Venusian [[gravity]] into a nine-day orbit of {{convert|400|by|330000|km|mi}}.<ref name="nssdc">{{cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2005-045A |title=Venus Express |work=[[National Space Science Data Center]] |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> The burn was monitored from ESA's Control Centre, [[ESOC]], in [[Darmstadt, Germany]].

Seven further orbit control maneuvers, two with the main engine and five with the [[Rocket engine|thrusters]], were required for ''Venus Express'' to reach its final operational 24-hour orbit around Venus.<ref name="nssdc"/>

''Venus Express'' entered its target orbit at apoapsis on 7 May 2006 at 13:31 UTC, when the spacecraft was {{convert|151000000|km|mi}} from Earth. At this point the spacecraft was running on an [[ellipse]] substantially closer to the planet than during the initial orbit. The polar orbit ranged between {{convert|250|and|66000|km|mi}} over Venus. The [[periapsis]] was located almost above the North pole (80° North latitude), and it took 24 hours for the spacecraft to travel around the planet.

''Venus Express'' studied the [[Venusian atmosphere]] and clouds in detail, the [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] environment and the surface characteristics of Venus from orbit. It also made global maps of the Venusian surface temperatures. Its nominal mission was originally planned to last for 500 Earth days (approximately two Venusian sidereal days), but the mission was extended five times: first on 28 February 2007 until early May 2009; then on 4 February 2009 until 31 December 2009; and then on 7 October 2009 until 31 December 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=45685 |title=Mission extensions approved for science missions |date=16 October 2009 |publisher=ESA}}</ref> On 22 November 2010, the mission was extended to 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/director-desk/48007-europe-maintains-its-presence-on-the-final-frontier/ |title=Europe maintains its presence on the final frontier |publisher=ESA |date=22 November 2010}}</ref> On 20 June 2013, the mission was extended a final time until 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/director-desk/51944-esa-science-missions-continue-in-overtime/ |title=ESA science missions continue in overtime |publisher=ESA |date=20 June 2013}}</ref>

On 28 November 2014, mission control lost contact with ''Venus Express''. Intermittent contact was reestablished on 3 December 2014, though there was no control over the spacecraft, likely due to exhaustion of propellant.<ref name=SpaceDaily-2014-12-08/> On 16 December 2014, ESA announced that the ''Venus Express'' mission had ended.<ref name="esa20141216"/> A [[carrier signal]] was still being received from the vehicle, but no data was being transmitted. Mission manager Patrick Martin expected the spacecraft would fall below {{convert|150|km|mi}} in early January 2015, with destruction occurring in late January or early February.<ref name="natgeo20141217">{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141217-venus-express-final-plunge-space-science/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218020323/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141217-venus-express-final-plunge-space-science/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 December 2014 |title=Out of Fuel, Venus Express Is Falling Gently to Its Death in Planet's Skies |work=National Geographic |first=Nadia |last=Drake |author-link=Nadia Drake |date=17 December 2014 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> The spacecraft's carrier signal was last detected by ESA on 18 January 2015.<ref name="esa20150123"/>

==Instruments==
'''ASPERA-4''': An acronym for "'''A'''nalyzer of '''S'''pace '''P'''lasmas and '''E'''ne'''r'''getic '''A'''toms," ASPERA-4 investigated the interaction between the [[solar wind]] and the Venusian atmosphere, determine the impact of plasma processes on the atmosphere, determine global distribution of plasma and neutral gas, study energetic neutral atoms, ions and electrons, and analyze other aspects of the near Venus environment. ASPERA-4 is a re-use of the ASPERA-3 design used on ''Mars Express'', but adapted for the harsher near-Venus environment.

'''MAG''': The [[magnetometer]] was designed to measure the strength of Venus's magnetic field and the direction of it as affected by the solar wind and Venus itself. It mapped the [[magnetosheath]], [[magnetosphere|magnetotail]], [[ionosphere]], and magnetic barrier in high resolution in three-dimensions, aid ASPERA-4 in the study of the interaction of the solar wind with the atmosphere of Venus, identify the boundaries between plasma regions, and carry planetary observations as well (such as the search for and characterization of Venus lightning). MAG was derived from the ''Rosetta'' lander's ROMAP instrument.

One measuring device was placed on the body of the craft. The identical second of the pair was placed the necessary distance away from the body by unfolding a 1 m long boom (carbon composite tube). Two redundant pyrotechnical cutters cut one loop of thin rope to free the power of metal springs. The driven knee lever rotated the boom perpendicularly outwards and latched it in place. Only the use of a pair of sensors together with the rotation of the probe allowed the spacecraft to resolve the small natural magnetic field beneath the disturbing fields of the probe itself. The measurements to identify the fields produced by the craft took place on the route from Earth to Venus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iwf.oeaw.ac.at/de/forschung/sonnensystem/planeten/venus/venus-express/vex-mag/ |title=IWF : VEX-MAG |publisher=Iwf.oewa.ac.at |access-date=15 December 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006164723/http://www.iwf.oeaw.ac.at/de/forschung/sonnensystem/planeten/venus/venus-express/vex-mag/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="pope639">{{cite journal |title=Exploring planetary magnetic environments using magnetically unclean spacecraft: A systems approach to VEX MAG data analysis |journal=Annales Geophysicae |last1=Pope |first1=S. A. |last2=Zhang |first2=T. L. |last3=Balikhin |first3=M. A. |last4=Hvizdos |first4=L. |last5=Kudela |first5=K. |last6=Dimmock |first6=A. P. |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=639–647 |date=April 2011 |doi=10.5194/angeo-29-639-2011 |bibcode=2011AnGeo..29..639P|doi-access=free }}</ref> The lack of magnetic cleanness was due to the reuse of the ''[[Mars Express]]'' spacecraft bus, which did not carry a magnetometer.<ref name="pope639" /> By combining the data from two-point simultaneous measurements and using software to identify and remove interference generated by ''Venus Express'' itself, it was possible to obtain results of a quality comparable to those produced by a magnetically clean craft.<ref name="pope639" />

'''VMC''': The '''V'''enus '''M'''onitoring '''C'''amera is a wide-angle, multi-channel [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]]. The VMC is designed for global imaging of the planet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mps.mpg.de/en/projekte/venus-express/vmc/ |title=The Venus Express mission camera |publisher=Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307024329/http://www.mps.mpg.de/en/projekte/venus-express/vmc/ |archive-date=7 March 2008 }}</ref> It operated in the visible (VIS), ultraviolet (UV), and near infrared (NIR1 and NIR2) spectral ranges, and maps surface brightness distribution searching for volcanic activity, monitoring [[airglow]], studying the distribution of unknown ultraviolet absorbing phenomenon at the cloud-tops, and making other science observations. It was derived in part from the ''Mars Express'' [[High Resolution Stereo Camera|High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)]] and the ''Rosetta'' [[Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System|Optical, Spectroscopic and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS)]]. The camera is based on a Kodak KAI-1010 Series, 1024 x 1024 pixel interline CCD, and included an [[FPGA]] to pre-process image data, reducing the amount transmitted to Earth.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ida.ing.tu-bs.de/index.php?id=841&L=2. |title=Venus Monitoring Camera |publisher=Technical University at Brunswick}}</ref> The consortium of institutions responsible for the VMC included the [[Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research]], the Institute of Planetary Research at the [[German Aerospace Center]] and the Institute of Computer and Communication Network Engineering at [[Technische Universität Braunschweig]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMIVTVHJCF_index_0.html |title=The light and dark of Venus |date=21 February 2008 |publisher=ESA}}</ref> It is not to be confused with [[Visual Monitoring Camera]] mounted on ''[[Mars Express]]'', of which it is an evolution.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.mps.mpg.de/2416908/VMC-Dokumentation.pdf |title=Venus Monitoring Camera for Venus Express |publisher=Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |first1=W. J. |last1=Markiewicz |first2=D. |last2=Titov |first3=B. |last3=Fiethe |first4=T. |last4=Behnke |first5=I. |last5=Szemerey |first6=H. |last6=Perplies |first7=M. |last7=Wedemeier |first8=I. |last8=Sebastian |first9=W. |last9=Boogaerts |first10=C. |last10=Dierker |first11=D. |last11=Osterloh |first12=N. |last12=Ignatiev |first13=M. |last13=Koch |first14=H. U. |last14=Keller |first15=R. |last15=Jaumann |first16=H. |last16=Michaelis |first17=H. |last17=Michalik |first18=D. |last18=Crisp |first19=L. |last19=Esposito |first20=S. S. |last20=Limaye |first21=S. |last21=Watanabe |first22=N. |last22=Thomas |first23=D. |last23=Belyaev |first24=A. |last24=Dannenberg |first25=M. |last25=Tchimmel |first26=R. |last26=Moissl |display-authors=5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104722/https://www.mps.mpg.de/2416908/VMC-Dokumentation.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/mission_definition.pdf |title=Venus Express: Mission Definition Report |publisher=European Space Agency |first1=Ch. |last1=Koeck |first2=S. |last2=Kemble |first3=L. |last3=Gautret |first4=P. |last4=Renard |first5=F. |last5=Faye |page=17 |date=October 2001 |id=ESA-SCI(2001)6}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''V'''enus '''M'''onitoring '''C'''amera channels<ref name=":0" />
!VMC Channel
!Central Wavelength
!Spectral Range
|-
|VIS
|513 nm
|503 – 523 nm
|-
|NIR1
|935 nm
|900 – 970 nm
|-
|NIR2
|1.01 μm
|990 – 1030 nm
|-
|UV
|365 nm
|345 – 385 nm
|}

'''PFS''': The "'''P'''lanetary '''F'''ourier '''S'''pectrometer" (PFS) should have operated in the [[infrared]] between the 0.9&nbsp;[[micrometre|μm]] and 45&nbsp;μm wavelength range and was designed to perform vertical optical sounding of the Venus atmosphere. It should have performed global, long-term monitoring of the three-dimensional temperature field in the lower atmosphere (cloud level up to 100 kilometers). Furthermore, it should have searched for minor atmospheric constituents that may be present, but had not yet been detected, analyzed atmospheric [[Particulate|aerosols]], and investigated surface to atmosphere exchange processes. The design was based on a [[spectrometer]] on ''Mars Express'', but modified for optimal performance for the ''Venus Express'' mission. However PFS failed during its deployment and no useful data was transmitted.<ref name="Lakdawalla2007">{{cite news |last1=Lakdawalla |first1=Emily |title=Venus Express PFS fails to respond to a swift kick |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/1041 |access-date=2 February 2023 |work=The Planetary Society |date=July 23, 2007 |language=en}}</ref> 

'''SPICAV''': The "'''SP'''ectroscopy for '''I'''nvestigation of '''C'''haracteristics of the '''A'''tmosphere of '''V'''enus" (SPICAV) is an [[imaging spectrometer]] that was used for analyzing radiation in the infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. It was derived from the ''SPICAM'' instrument flown on ''Mars Express''. However, SPICAV had an additional [[channel (digital image)|channel]] known as '''SOIR''' ('''S'''olar '''O'''ccultation at '''I'''nfra'''r'''ed) that was used to observe the Sun through Venus's atmosphere in the infrared.

'''VIRTIS''': The "'''V'''isible and '''I'''nfra'''r'''ed '''T'''hermal '''I'''maging '''S'''pectrometer" (VIRTIS) was an [[imaging spectrometer]] that observed in the near-ultraviolet, visible, and [[infrared]] parts of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]]. It analyzed all layers of the atmosphere, surface temperature and surface/atmosphere interaction phenomena.

'''VeRa''': [[Radio science subsystem|'''Ve'''nus '''Ra'''dio Science]] was a radio sounding experiment that transmitted radio waves from the spacecraft and passed them through the atmosphere or reflected them off the surface. These radio waves were received by a ground station on Earth for analysis of the [[ionosphere]], atmosphere and surface of Venus. It was derived from the Radio Science Investigation instrument flown on ''[[Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta]]''.

==Science==
Starting out in the early planetary system with similar sizes and chemical compositions, the histories of Venus and Earth have diverged in spectacular fashion. It is hoped that the ''Venus Express'' mission data that was obtained can contribute not only to an in-depth understanding of how the Venusian atmosphere is structured, but also to an understanding of the changes that led to the current greenhouse atmospheric conditions. Such an understanding may contribute to the study of climate change on Earth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/nov_2007/presentations/schubert.pdf |title=Atmospheric Dynamics of Venus and Earth |publisher=Lpi.usra.edu |access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref> In 2006, its research result identified the differences between Venus and Earth and started to observe routine climate changes. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-04-11 |title=유럽 금성탐사선 '비너스 익스프레스', 금성궤도 선회 시작 (영문기사 첨부) |url=https://www.voakorea.com/a/a-35-2006-04-11-voa7-91207709/1297249.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Voice of America |language=ko}}</ref>

''Venus Express'' was also used to observe signs of life on [[Earth]] from Venus orbit. In images acquired by the probe, Earth was less than one pixel in size, which mimics observations of Earth-sized planets in other [[planetary system]]s. These observations were then used to develop methods for habitability studies of [[exoplanet]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMUOW4N0MF_index_0.html |title=Venus Express searching for life – on Earth |work=European Space Agency |access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>

==Timeline of the mission==

[[File:Animation of Venus Express trajectory.gif|thumb|Animation of ''Venus Express''{{'s}} trajectory from 9 November 2005 to 31 December 2006<br />{{legend2|magenta|''Venus Express''}}{{·}}{{legend2|Lime|Venus}}{{·}}{{legend2|RoyalBlue|Earth}}{{·}}{{legend2|Yellow|Sun}}]]
[[File:Animation of Venus Express trajectory around Venus.gif|thumb|Animation of ''Venus Express''{{'s}} trajectory around Venus from 1 April 2006 to 1 April 2008<br />{{legend2|magenta|''Venus Express''}}{{·}}{{legend2|Lime|Venus}}]]

=== Before launch ===
*3 August 2005: ''Venus Express'' completed its final phase of testing at [[EADS Astrium|Astrium]] Intespace<!-- Intespace sic! --> facility in [[Toulouse|Toulouse, France]].
*7 August 2005: ''Venus Express'' arrived at the airport of the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]].
*16 August 2005: First flight verification test completed.
*22 August 2005: Integrated System Test-3.
*30 August 2005: Last major system test successfully started.
*5 September 2005: Electrical testing successful.
*21 September 2005: FRR (Fuelling Readiness Review) Ongoing.
*12 October 2005: Mating to the ''Fregat'' upper stage completed.
*21 October 2005: Contamination detected inside the [[Payload fairing|fairing]] – launch on hold.
*5 November 2005: Arrival at launch pad.
*9 November 2005: Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 03:33:34 UTC.

=== In space ===
*11 November 2005: First trajectory correction maneuver successfully performed.
*17 February 2006: The main engine is fired successfully in a dress rehearsal for the arrival maneuver.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEMVX5MVGJE_0.html |title=Successful Venus Express main engine test |publisher=European Space Agency |date=17 February 2006 |access-date=9 May 2006}}</ref>
*24 February 2006: Second trajectory correction maneuver successfully performed.
*29 March 2006: Third trajectory correction maneuver successfully performed – on target for 11 April orbit insertion.
*7 April 2006: Command stack for orbit insertion maneuver is loaded on the spacecraft.
*11 April 2006: The Venus Orbit Insertion (VOI) is completed successfully, according to the following timeline:<ref name="esa20070524">{{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/venus-express/38947-orbit-insertion/ |title=Venus orbit insertion |publisher=European Space Agency |date=24 May 2007 |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>

::{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Event
![[Spacecraft event time]] (UTC)
!Ground receive time (UTC)
|-
| Liquid Settling Phase start || 07:07:56 || 07:14:41
|-
| VOI main engine start || 07:10:29 || 07:17:14
|-
| periapsis passage || 07:36:35 ||
|-
| eclipse start || 07:37:46 ||
|-
| occultation start || 07:38:30 || 07:45:15
|-
| occultation end || 07:48:29 || 07:55:14
|-
| eclipse end || 07:55:11 ||
|-
| VOI burn end || 08:00:42 || 08:07:28
|}

:::Period of this initial orbit is nine days.<ref name="nssdc"/>
*13 April 2006: First images of Venus from ''Venus Express'' released.
*20 April 2006: Apoapsis Lowering Manoeuvre #1 performed. Orbital period is now 40 hours.
*23 April 2006: Apoapsis Lowering Manoeuvre #2 performed. Orbital period is now approx 25 hours 43 minutes.
*26 April 2006: Apoapsis Lowering Manoeuvre #3 is slight fix to previous ALM.
*7 May 2006: ''Venus Express'' entered its target orbit at apoapsis at 13:31 UTC

=== In target orbit ===
*14 December 2006: First temperature map of the southern hemisphere.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2009/07/The_new_temperature_map_of_Venus_southern_hemisphere |title=The new temperature map of Venus' southern hemisphere |publisher=European Space Agency |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=27 November 2016}}</ref>
*27 February 2007: [[ESA]] agrees to fund mission extension until May 2009.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
*19 September 2007: End of the nominal mission (500 Earth days) – Start of mission extension.
*27 November 2007: A series of papers was published in ''Nature'' giving the initial findings. It finds evidence for past oceans. It confirms the presence of lightning on Venus and that it is more common on Venus than it is on Earth. It also reports the discovery that a huge double [[Polar vortex|atmospheric vortex]] exists at the south pole of the planet.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.nature.com/news/2007/071128/full/news.2007.297.html |title=European mission reports from Venus |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |first=Eric |last=Hand |date=27 November 2007 |doi=10.1038/news.2007.297|s2cid=129514118 |doi-access=free |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7117303.stm |title=Venus offers Earth climate clues |work=BBC News |date=28 November 2007 |access-date=29 November 2007}}</ref>
*20 May 2008: The detection by the VIRTIS instrument of [[hydroxyl]] (OH) in the atmosphere of Venus is reported in the May 2008 issue of [[Astronomy & Astrophysics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Venus_Express_Provides_First_Detection_Of_Hydroxyl_In_Atmosphere_Of_Venus_999.html |title=Venus Express Provides First Detection of Hydroxyl in Atmosphere of Venus |publisher=SpaceDaily |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>
*4 February 2009: ESA agrees to fund mission extension until 31 December 2009.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
*7 October 2009: ESA agrees to fund the mission through 31 December 2012.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
* 23 November 2010: ESA agrees to fund the mission through 31 December 2014.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
* 25 August 2011: It is reported that a layer of [[ozone]] exists in the upper atmosphere of Venus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15203281 |title=Venus springs ozone layer surprise |work=BBC News |first=Jennifer |last=Carpenter |date=7 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=A layer of ozone detected in the nightside upper atmosphere of Venus |journal=Icarus |first1=F. |last1=Montmessin |first2=J.-L. |last2=Bertaux |first3=F. |last3=Lefèvre |first4=E. |last4=Marcq |first5=D. |last5=Belyaev |first6=J.-C. |last6=Gérard |first7=O. |last7=Korablev |first8=A. |last8=Fedorova |first9=V. |last9=Sarago |first10=A. C. |last10=Vandaele |display-authors=5 |volume=216 |issue=1 |pages=82–85 |date=November 2011 |doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2011.08.010 |bibcode=2011Icar..216...82M|hdl=2268/100136 |url=https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/100136 }}</ref>
* 1 October 2012: It is reported that a cold layer where [[dry ice]] may exists in the atmosphere of Venus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Venus_Express/A_curious_cold_layer_in_the_atmosphere_of_Venus |title=A curious cold layer in the atmosphere of Venus |publisher=European Space Agency |date=1 October 2012 |access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>
* 18 June—11 July 2014: Performs successful [[aerobraking]] experiment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2014/05/16/surfing-an-alien-atmosphere/ |title=Surfing an alien atmosphere |publisher=European Space Agency |first=Daniel |last=Scuka |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> Multiple passes at 131 to 135&nbsp;km altitude.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Venus_Express/Venus_Express_rises_again |title=Venus Express rises again |publisher=European Space Agency |date=11 July 2014 |access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref>

=== End of mission ===
* 28 November 2014: Mission control loses contact with ''Venus Express''.<ref name="SpaceDaily-2014-12-08">{{cite news |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Venus_Express_anomaly_999.html |title=Venus Express anomaly |publisher=SpaceDaily |date=8 December 2014 |access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>
* 3 December 2014: Intermittent contact established, spacecraft determined to likely be out of propellant.<ref name="SpaceDaily-2014-12-08" />
* 16 December 2014: ESA declares the ''Venus Express'' mission over.<ref name="esa20141216" />
* 18 January 2015: Last detection of the spacecraft's X-band carrier signal.<ref name="esa20150123" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[List of European Space Agency programmes and missions]]
* [[Uncrewed space mission]]
* [[List of planetary probes]]
* [[List of missions to Venus]]
* [[List of uncrewed spacecraft by program]]
* [[Space exploration]]
* [[Space telescope]]
* [[Space probe]]
* [[Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes]]
* [[Timeline of planetary exploration]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |title=The Planet Venus and the Venus Express Mission |journal=Planetary and Space Science |first=Fredric W. |last=Taylor |volume=54 |issue=13–14 |pages=1247–1248 |date=November 2006 |bibcode=2006P&SS...54.1247T |doi=10.1016/j.pss.2006.06.013}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Permanent_Mission_in_Russia/Venus_Express_launch_campaign_starts |title=Venus Express launch campaign starts |publisher=European Space Agency |date=3 August 2005}}
* {{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/venus-express/31574-journal-archive/?farchive_objecttypeid=31&farchive_objectid=30928 |title=Venus Express Launch Campaign Journal |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=16 August 2005}}
* {{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/venus-express/35192-3d-model/ |title=Interactive 3D model of the Venus Express spacecraft |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=5 September 2005}}
* {{cite web |url=http://sci.esa.int/venus-express/33964-instruments/ |title=Venus Express: Instruments |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=14 September 2005}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |url=http://www.mpg.de/798302/F002_Focus_026-033.pdf |title=The Blazing Hell Behind the Veil |journal=MaxPlanckResearch |first=Thorsten |last=Dambeck |issue=4 |year=2009 |pages=26–33 |id=B56133 |access-date=23 November 2014 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234527/http://www.mpg.de/798302/F002_Focus_026-033.pdf |url-status=dead }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Venus Express}}
* [http://www.esa.int/venus ''Venus Express'' mission page] by the European Space Agency
* [http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Venus_Express ''Venus Express'' mission page] by ESA Spacecraft Operations
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070801222059/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=Venus_Express ''Venus Express'' profile] by NASA's Solar System Exploration

{{Venus spacecraft}}
{{European Space Agency}}
{{Satellite and spacecraft instruments}}
{{Solar System probes}}
{{Orbital launches in 2005}}

[[Category:Space probes launched in 2005]]
[[Category:European Space Agency space probes]]
[[Category:Embedded systems]]
[[Category:Missions to Venus]]
[[Category:Orbiters (space probe)]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched by Soyuz-FG rockets]]