No. 213 - Pre-solar Conjunction Test
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities:
| MET (Day) |
Date | DOY | Main Activity |
| 1489 | 06/12/09 | 340 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1490 | 07/12/09 | 341 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1491 | 08/12/09 | 342 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1492 | 09/12/09 | 343 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1493 | 10/12/09 | 344 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1494 | 11/12/09 | 345 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1495 | 12/12/09 | 346 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 346) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 253 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 843.4 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 levels on the four reaction wheels (RWs) remained stable throughout the reporting period. RW2 continued to show several spikes in its friction level (see status report no. 212).
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
- Venus at superior conjunction on 11 January 2010. Venus Express superior conjunction operations: 29 December 2009 to 22 January 2010
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Legal disclaimer
This report is based on the ESOC mission operations report, MOR #213. Please see the copyright section of the legal disclaimer (bottom of this page) for terms of use.