Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has lost communication with the Akatsuki spacecraft, the sole active observer of Venus.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has lost contact with its Venus Climate Orbiter, Akatsuki, after an operation in late April.
JAXA informed that it has “lost contact with Akatsuki after an operation in late April due to an extended period of low attitude stability control mode, and is currently making efforts to reestablish communication with the spacecraft.”Notably, the spacecraft has observed the super-rotation phenomenon, gravity waves, and thermal tides and sent infrared images of the planet’s surface.
During its mission, Akatsuki has made significant contributions to our understanding of Venus. It revealed details about the super-rotation phenomenon, where Venus’ atmosphere rotates much faster than the planet itself. Despite its small size, the spacecraft tirelessly imaged the Venusian atmosphere with its five cameras. Akatsuki’s data has been crucial, filling the gap between previous missions likeVenus, often referred to as Earth’s twin due to similarities in size, mass, and composition, presents a harsh environment.
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Japan loses contact with Akatsuki, humanity's only active Venus probeAndrew is a freelance space journalist with a focus on reporting on China's rapidly growing space sector. He began writing for Space.com in 2019 and writes for SpaceNews, IEEE Spectrum, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, New Scientist and others.
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