Venus Express -
Ready To Study Venusian Atmosphere
(9 July 2005) Venus Express, the
first European space probe to investigate the planet Venus has completed the
development, integration and test phase in Toulouse.
Venus Express is being manufactured by EADS Astrium as prime contractor for ESA
(European Space Agency). The research probe is scheduled for launch on board a
Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) in late October
2005. EADS is the principal shareholder of Starsem, the launch provider, with
35%, Arianespace holding 15%.
For two Venusian years (500 Earth days),
the probe will investigate the atmosphere of the hottest planet in terms of
structure, composition and dynamics. Venus Express, carrying seven scientific
instruments (spectrometers, imagers and a plasma analyser) will orbit the
second planet of the solar system at an altitude between 250 and 66,000
kilometres by flying above its poles.
Analysing and understanding the
prevailing conditions in the atmosphere and in the near environment of Venus is
of critical importance to understanding long term climatic processes governing
the evolution of life on Earth.
By re-using both Mars Express
spacecraft design and the available instruments from the Mars Express and
Rosetta programs, Venus Express meets the triple challenge of achieving its
scientific objectives, cost efficiency and its unparalleled development
schedule.
Venus Express development began in the autumn of 2002. In
the last few months the spacecraft has successfully passed its entire
environmental test campaign in Intespace Toulouse and is currently undergoing
the final functional test prior to Flight Acceptance Review in early July.
Departure to Baikonur is planned by August this year.
Specific solar
panels for the mission
As the Venus mission requires guiding the
spacecraft towards the sun the layout of the solar generators has to be very
special. The design is necessary for the solar arrays to withstand the high
temperature loads encountered during its mission. After Mercury, Venus is the
Sun's nearest planet and consequently solar radiation is considerably higher
than on Earth. Additionally, the solar arrays will be exposed to the sunlight
reflection from the Venusian atmosphere, the so-called albedo. The solar arrays
have been designed and qualified for operating temperatures between -167° C
and +158° C. It delivers a power of 821 watts in the Earth's orbit and
1,468 watts in the Venusian orbit at the end of its four-year mission. Shortly
after launch, Venus Express will unfold its solar arrays which will remain
deployed during the whole mission.
EADS Astrium is Europe's leading
satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military
telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation
programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment. EADS Astrium is a wholly
owned subsidiary of EADS Space, which is dedicated to providing civil and
defence space systems. In 2004 EADS Space had a turnover of Euro 2.6 billion
and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004,
EADS generated revenues of Euro 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of more
than 110,000.
(source: ESA)