No. 162 - Start of Quadrature Phase
Later in the quadrature phase a swap to high gain antenna 2 (HGA2) is required for Earth communications, as the spacecraft attitude for continuing the use of HGA1 would result in illumination of spacecraft faces not designed to cope with such exposure.
Nominal operations were conducted during the reporting period. VIRTIS continues to be operated in the visual channels only. Radio Science Investigation (RSI) occultation measurements were taken during three ground station passes in the reporting period.
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities:
| MET (Day) | Date | DOY | Main Activity |
| 1132 | 14/12/08 | 349 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1133 | 15/12/08 | 350 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1134 | 16/12/08 | 351 |
Skipped communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1135 | 17/12/08 | 352 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1136 | 18/12/08 | 353 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1137 | 19/12/08 | 354 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1138 | 20/12/08 | 355 |
Skipped communications pass over Cebreros. |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 355) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 130.74 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 435.8 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
RSI occultation measurements were taken during the reporting period on DOY 350, 352 and 354 with the New Norcia ground station.
VIRTIS
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
VIRTIS is operated in the visual channels only.
VMC
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
Future Milestones
- Handling of leap second on 1 January 2009.
- High gain antenna swap from HGA1 to HGA2 on 13 January 2009.
- The quadrature phase will end on 25 January 2009.
- Commissioning of the Reaction Control Subsystem B on 12 February 2009.
- Battery Deep Discharge Test is planned for 22 April 2009.
- Start of next (outbound) quadrature phase on 29 May 2009.
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This report is based on the ESOC mission operations report, MOR #162. Please see the copyright section of the legal disclaimer (bottom of this page) for terms of use.