ESA Science & Technology - From Earth to Venus - Reaching our Sister Planet

Publication date: 16 August 2006

Authors: Accomazzo, A. et al.

Journal: ESA Bulletin
Volume: 127
Page: 38-44
Year: 2006

Copyright: ESA

In the early morning of 9 November 2005, Venus Express left Earth aboard a Soyuz launch vehicle and headed for Venus. After several months of interplanetary cruise, a perfect capture burn on 11 April 2006 placed the spacecraft in orbit around our neighbouring planet. Only 48 hours later, the first astonishing images of the south pole were received on Earth. A few weeks later, after orbital manoeuvres, Venus Express achieved its operational science orbit ready to begin several years of observations.