No. 40 - Science Operations
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | VPER# | Main Activity |
| 271 | 06/08/06 | 218 | 107 | Routine science operations |
| 272 | 07/08/06 | 219 | 108 | Update of Gyro Alignment Routine science operations |
| 273 | 08/08/06 | 220 | 109 | Routine science operations |
| 274 | 09/08/06 | 221 | 110 | Routine science operations |
| 275 | 10/08/06 | 222 | 111 |
IMP Swap from A to B |
| 276 | 11/08/06 | 223 | 112 |
Routine science operations |
| 277 | 12/08/06 | 224 | 113 | Routine science operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period on DOY 224, Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 237 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 789 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 the USO un-muted took place on DOY 218, 220 and 223.
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
The planning of STP015 was completed on time. The pre-check of POR for STP016 did not reveal any anomaly.
Medium Term Planning
The planning of MTP-06 was completed successfully. MTP-06 does not include the conjunction operations; a specific plan will be generated for that period.
Future Milestones
Trajectory correction manoeuvres will be performed on 2006-230 and 2006-236.
Throughout the next week short term planning activities for CP16 will be completed, and the pre-checks of the CP17 will be performed. The processing of MTP6 inputs will continue.
An operational strategy for the upcoming solar conjunction phase in October/November 2006 will be developed throughout the coming weeks.