No. 210 - Mission Operations Update
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities:
| MET (Day) |
Date | DOY | Main Activity |
| 1468 | 15/11/09 | 319 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1469 | 16/11/09 | 320 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1470 | 17/11/09 | 321 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1471 | 18/11/09 | 322 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1472 | 19/11/09 | 323 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1473 | 20/11/09 | 324 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1474 | 21/11/09 | 325 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 325) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 247.6 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 825.5 seconds.
Spacecraft
Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS)
The AOCS is in its nominal configuration and performing nominally. Operations continue with all four reaction wheels.
Since mid 2008, reaction wheel 1 (RW1) has showed increased but stable levels of friction. To date, however, the friction level has remained well within set limits and has had no negative effect on the spacecraft attitude control. Over the course of this reporting period, the friction level on RW1 has actually gone down again to levels similar to those early on in the mission. The friction level continues to be closely monitored.
On RW2, the friction level recently has been showing few spikes during the Earth pointing communication periods. This behaviour has been correlated to higher bearing temperatures on RW2. The spikes are small (below RW1's friction level) but their influence on the spacecraft's attitude is being closely monitored.
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
No radio science observations were made during the reporting period.
VIRTIS
VIRTIS-M was operated in the visual channels only.
VMC
The instrument was regularly operated as part of the routine plan.
Future Milestones
- Pre-solar conjunction test with the Cebreros ground station on 9 December 2009
- Venus at superior conjunction on 11 January 2010. Venus Express superior conjunction operations: 29 December 2009 to 22 January 2010
---
Legal disclaimer
This report is based on the ESOC mission operations report, MOR #210. Please see the copyright section of the legal disclaimer (bottom of this page) for terms of use.