No. 212 - Mission Operations Update
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities:
| MET (Day) |
Date | DOY | Main Activity |
| 1482 | 29/11/09 | 333 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1483 | 30/11/09 | 334 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1484 | 01/12/09 | 335 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1485 | 02/12/09 | 336 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1486 | 03/12/09 | 337 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1487 | 04/12/09 | 338 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1488 | 05/12/09 | 339 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 339) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 251.5 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 838.4 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.
The friction level on reaction wheel 1 (RW1) has remained stable during the reporting period. It even showed a reduction trend after the end of the more frequent slews (and the associated higher wheel speeds) of the previous week (see status report no. 211).
RW2 continued to show spikes in its friction level, predominantly during the Earth pointing communication periods. This behaviour has been correlated to higher bearing temperatures. 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
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This report is based on the ESOC mission operations report, MOR #212. Please see the copyright section of the legal disclaimer (bottom of this page) for terms of use.