No. 153 - Eclipse Season
On DOY 291 a sudden drop in received automatic gain control at the Cebreros ground station resulted in extensive data loss (both science and housekeeping) between 14:51Z and 15:05Z. This was later confirmed to be due to heavy weather (thunderstorms) in the area. The data was recovered completely over the following few days.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | Main Activity |
| 1069 | 12/10/08 | 286 | Routine Operations |
| 1070 | 13/10/08 | 287 | Routine Operations |
| 1071 | 14/10/08 | 288 | Routine Operations |
| 1072 | 15/10/08 | 289 |
Routine Operations |
| 1073 | 16/10/08 | 290 | Routine Operations |
| 1074 | 17/10/08 | 291 |
Data loss event over Cebreros due to weather |
| 1075 | 18/10/08 | 292 | Recovery of science data lost during previous day |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 292) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 192.5 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 641 seconds.
Payload Activities
ASPERA
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
MAG
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
PFS
The instrument was not operated during the reporting period.
SPICAV
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VeRA
No measurements were taken during the reporting period.
VIRTIS
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VMC
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
Future Milestones
- High gain antenna (HGA1) S-band carrier power test is planned for 15 December 2008
- Next quadrature phase will start on 19 December 2008
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Legal disclaimer
This report is based on the ESOC mission operations report, MOR #153. Please see the copyright section of the legal disclaimer (bottom of this page) for terms of use.