Japan's space agency, JAXA, has officially concluded the mission for its Akatsuki Venus orbiter. The decision was made after communication with the spacecraft was lost in April 2024, bringing an end to a nearly 15-year journey that uniquely combined planetary science with popular culture.
Key Takeaways
- JAXA has officially terminated the Akatsuki Venus probe mission after losing contact in April 2024.
- Launched in 2010, the probe studied Venus's climate and atmosphere for over a decade.
- Akatsuki carried aluminum plates etched with over 13,000 fan-submitted drawings of the virtual pop star Hatsune Miku.
- For the last ten years, Akatsuki was the only active spacecraft specifically dedicated to observing Venus.
Mission Concludes After Communication Loss
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the formal end of the Akatsuki mission. The team had been trying to reestablish contact with the probe since communication ceased earlier this year. After extensive efforts, they determined that recovery was unlikely.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Akatsuki project team confirmed the end of operations. The team expressed gratitude for the public's support throughout the mission's long duration.
"We have concluded operations of the Venus probe Akatsuki. Since last year we have been attempting to restore communications, but determined that recovery would be difficult, and so we have drawn this chapter to a close. We sincerely thank everyone who has supported Akatsuki over the 15 years since its launch."
The probe, also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter, was a significant asset in planetary science. Its termination marks the end of an important era in the study of our neighboring planet.
A Challenging Journey
Akatsuki's path was not always smooth. After its launch in May 2010, a main engine failure caused the probe to miss its initial opportunity to enter Venus's orbit. The JAXA team placed the spacecraft into an orbit around the sun for five years before successfully maneuvering it into orbit around Venus in 2015 using its smaller thrusters—a remarkable feat of orbital mechanics.
A Decade of Scientific Discovery at Venus
The primary objective of the Akatsuki mission was to study the complex atmosphere and weather patterns of Venus. For the past decade, it was the only spacecraft in orbit around Venus with this specific focus. Its instruments provided valuable data on the planet's thick, toxic clouds and extreme surface conditions.
Key areas of study included the super-rotating atmosphere, where winds move faster than the planet's rotation, and the search for evidence of active volcanism. The probe captured detailed images of Venus, revealing the structure of its clouds in different wavelengths of light, including ultraviolet and infrared.
Venus: Earth's Twin?
Venus is often called Earth's "sister planet" due to its similar size and mass. However, its environment is vastly different, with a runaway greenhouse effect, surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead, and crushing atmospheric pressure. Missions like Akatsuki help scientists understand why these two neighboring planets evolved so differently.
The data collected by Akatsuki has contributed significantly to our understanding of planetary climates. The information helps scientists model atmospheric dynamics not only on Venus but also on Earth and other planets.
A Pop Culture Icon in Space
Beyond its scientific contributions, Akatsuki gained international fame for a unique cultural component. Before its 2010 launch, JAXA initiated a public campaign inviting people to submit messages and artwork to be carried on the spacecraft.
Fans of the virtual singer and Vocaloid software character, Hatsune Miku, organized a massive response. They submitted more than 13,000 illustrations and messages featuring the character. These submissions were etched onto three aluminum plates that served as balance weights on the probe.
This initiative turned a scientific instrument into a cultural time capsule, carrying a symbol of modern Japanese pop culture on a journey through the solar system. For nearly 15 years, the images of Hatsune Miku orbited Venus, representing a unique intersection of space exploration and public engagement.
The Future of Venus Exploration
While Akatsuki's mission has ended, the scientific exploration of Venus is set to continue. Several new missions are currently in development by international space agencies, promising a new wave of discovery.
NASA is preparing two significant missions slated for launch in the early 2030s:
- DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging): This mission will send a probe through the planet's atmosphere to measure its composition.
- VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy): This orbiter will map the surface of Venus in high resolution to better understand its geological history.
Additionally, the European Space Agency (ESA) is planning its EnVision mission. Expected to launch in the next decade, EnVision will also orbit Venus to study its surface and atmosphere in detail. These future missions will build upon the foundational data provided by Akatsuki and other previous probes, continuing humanity's quest to understand our planetary neighbor.