# Venus Express Update - June 20, 2006 **URL:** \ **Category:** Venus Express\ **Created:** [24 Giugno 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://www.forumastronautico.it/t/venus-express-update-june-20-2006/4626 "2006-06-24T19:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![marcozambi](https://www.forumastronautico.it/user_avatar/www.forumastronautico.it/marcozambi/32/208660_2.png) [@marcozambi](https://www.forumastronautico.it/u/marcozambi)\ **Post date:** [24 Giugno 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://www.forumastronautico.it/t/venus-express-update-june-20-2006/4626/1 "2006-06-24T19:22:22Z")
> **[No. 32 - Operational Updates - Venus Express - Science Portal](https://sci.esa.int/web/venus-express/-/39400-venus-express-status-report)** > > Report for Period 11 June to 17 June 2006During the reporting period, Venus Express experienced its first Safe Mode since launch. This occured on 12 June, DoY 163, at the end of a data recovery action due to a ground station problem on DoY 162. Operational Updates Venus Express European Space Agency 20 Jun 2006 Report for Period 11 June to 17 June 2006 During the reporting period, Venus Express experienced its first Safe Mode since launch. This occured on 12 June, DoY 163, at the end of a data recovery action due to a ground station problem on DoY 162. The spacecraft is now back in routine operations and nominal planning for the upcoming week has already been resumed. The Safe Mode triggering event is being analysed. The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period: MET Date DOY VPER# Main Activity (Day) 215 11/06/06 162 51 Routine science operations 216 12/06/06 163 52 Routine science operations and SC Safe Mode 217 13/06/06 164 53 SC Safe Mode recovery 218 14/06/06 165 54 SC Safe Mode recovery 219 15/06/06 166 55 Bistatic Radar observation only 220 16/06/06 167 56 Routine science operations 221 17/06/06 168 57 Bistatic Radar observation only At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 168, 14:00) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 194 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 647 seconds. Payload Activities ASPERA The instrument is regularly operated. At the time of the Safe Mode the instrument was ON and was powered OFF by the payload safing procedure. Nominal operations have been resumed in orbit 56. MAG The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan. At Safe Mode transition the instrument was ON and it has been powered OFF by the payload safing procedure. After the Safe Mode the instrument has been switched ON again on DoY 165 in Solar Wind mode as agreed with the PI. Nominal planning has been resumed in orbit 56. PFS The instrument is currently OFF and is not included in the routine planning. Any further attempt to move the scanner is now suspended until further notice. SPICAV The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan. At safe mode transition the instrument was OFF with shutter closed. VeRA Attitude commands for the bistatic operations in orbits 55 and 57 have been recalculated at ESOC in an extremely short time and merged with the nominal activities of orbit 56. Spacecraft operations during the two bistatic radar observations have been fully nominal. Some evidence of echoes have been seen in real-time at the DSN Canberra station and data are now being processed by the PI teams for further evidence. VIRTIS The observations during orbit 51 were completely skipped. At spacecraft Safe Mode transition the instrument was OFF. The instrument is now regularly operated as part of the routine plan. VMC At spacecraft safe mode transition the instrument was OFF and it is now regularly operated as part of the routine plan. Sun avoidance is routinely checked manually. Future Milestones The spacecraft Safe Mode is now fully recovered and the impact on the orbit assessed. Commands for the next planning period have been generated already taking this deviation into account. The orbit determination process has assessed that there is no need for an orbit control manoeuvre in the next planning period therefore this will be executed only at the end of August. Medium Term Planning 2 has started on 4 June and will be completed by 1 July after four weeks of activities. The next milestone for the mission is the preparation of the Mission Commissioning Results Review to be held end of June.