ESA Science & Technology - Venus Express - First European Mission to Venus

Publication date: 02 August 2003

Authors: Fabrega J., Schirmann T., Schmidt R., & McCoy D.

Journal: ref. IAC-03-Q.2.06
Page: pp.1-11
Year: 2003

Copyright: Astrium

A paper originally presented by EADS Astrium at the 54th IAC in Bremen in September 2003.

On 28 January 2003, EADS Astrium officially signed the Venus Express contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) worth 82.4 million Euros for the design and development of the spacecraft. This will be the first European spacecraft to visit the planet Venus. Venus Express is scheduled for launch from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in November 2005. It will be launched by a Soyuz-Fregat rocket and put immediately into its transfer orbit to Venus.