Venus Without an Active Spacecraft as Akatsuki Mission Ends
Venus, our mysterious planetary neighbor, now orbits the Sun without any active spacecraft observing its clouds or surface. Japan’s Akatsuki orbiter has officially ended its mission, leaving Venus unmonitored for the first time in years. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) declared Akatsuki dead after losing contact and being unable to reestablish communication, marking the end of its journey that began with a launch in 2010.
Akatsuki achieved a historic feat by surviving a failed orbital insertion and then successfully entering Venus’ orbit in 2015. It spent years sending back valuable data about Venus’ extreme weather and atmospheric mysteries. The loss of Akatsuki is a setback for planetary science, especially as future Venus missions face uncertain funding. NASA and the European Space Agency both have plans for new Venus probes, but their timelines remain unclear.
The Future of Venus Exploration
Scientists hope that the scientific momentum Akatsuki generated will continue. Venus remains a key target for understanding planetary evolution and climate. The wait now begins for the next mission to unlock the secrets of Earth’s “evil twin.”
Sources:
space.com
