Venus Express
European Space Agency
No. 43 - Science Operations
September 3, 2006
Report for Period 27 August to 2 September 2006
During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted
according to the plan. The ground and the space segment performance
have
been nominal.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the
reporting period:
MET Date DOY VPER# Main Activity
(Day)
292 27/08/06 239 128 Routine science operations
293 28/08/06 240 129 Routine science operations
294 29/08/06 241 130 Routine science operations
295 30/08/06 242 131 Routine science operations
PM3 dump in support of Safe Mode investigation
296 31/08/06 243 132 Routine science operations
297 01/09/06 244 133 Routine science operations
298 02/09/06 245 134 Routine science operations
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY
24515:00) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 247 million km from the
Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 823 seconds.
Payload Activities
ASPERA
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
MAG
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
PFS
The instrument is currently OFF and is not included in the routine
planning. Next PFS tests in Venus pointing attitude are planned for the
first 4 orbits of MTP 6 (24-27 September 2006).
SPICAV
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VeRA
The USO is nominally powered but muted. Occultation Observations with
USO un-muted took place on DOY 239 and 242.
VIRTIS
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VMC
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
Mission Planning
Short Term Planning
Operations of STP17 have been completed successfully and the planning
of
STP18 was completed in time. A pre-check of the payload requests for
STP19 was also successful.
Medium Term Planning
MTP007 has been completed with no major problems.
Future Milestones
Throughout the next week short term planning for CP19 and pre-checks
for
CP20 will commence.
An operational strategy for the upcoming solar conjunction phase in Oct
/Nov 2006 is being further iterated.