No. 57 - Routine Science Operations
Some problems were experienced with the communications between ESOC and Cebreros, and between ESOC and Villafranca, resulting in a very short pass on DOY 339.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | VPER# | Main Activity |
| 390 | 03/12/06 | 337 | 226 | Routine mission operations |
| 391 | 04/12/06 | 338 | 227 | Routine mission operations |
| 392 | 05/12/06 | 339 | 228 | Routine Mission operations. Communications from ESOC to Cebreros and to Villafranca were temporarily down. Once restored, only 1 hour of pass was left on this day and no science dumps were made |
| 393 | 06/12/06 | 340 | 229 | Routine mission operations |
| 394 | 07/12/06 | 341 | 230 | Routine mission operations |
| 395 | 08/12/06 | 342 | 231 | Routine mission operations |
| 396 | 09/12/06 | 343 | 232 | Routine mission operations |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 343, 16:00z) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 250 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 835 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
This instrument is OFF and is not operated.
SPICAV
The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VeRA
The USO is nominally powered but muted. From S/C point of view the RSI activity of this week was performed nominally.
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 STP031 were executed successfully and the planning of STP031 was completed in time.
Medium Term Planning
The planning for MTP011 has been completed successfully, the activities have been approved.
Future Milestones
The second Earth occultation season has started with additional Radio Science operations with the ESA New Norcia station.
Planning of the entire Christmas period will be completed next week (STPs 34 through 37, plus MTPs 11 and 12).
An Orbit Correction Manoeuvre is to be performed at pericenter passage on 15 December, followed by a touch-up manoeuvre on 21 December.