No. 216 - Start of Solar Conjunction Operations
The table below shows a chronology of the main activities:
| MET (Day) |
Date | DOY | Main Activity |
| 1510 | 27/12/09 | 361 |
Communications pass over Cebreros |
| 1511 | 28/12/09 | 362 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1512 | 29/12/09 | 363 |
Start of solar conjunction operations. |
| 1513 | 30/12/09 | 364 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1514 | 31/12/09 | 365 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1515 | 01/01/10 | 001 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
| 1516 | 02/01/10 | 002 |
Communications pass over Cebreros. |
At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 002) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 256 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 853 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. A new wheel regime was implemented on 29 December 2009 (DOY 363), as part of the solar conjunction operations. This operational phase will last till 22 January 2010.
A slight increase of the friction on reaction wheel 1 (RW1) as well as in RW1's bearing temperature is seen from DOY 363 onward. This is due to the new wheel regime.
The behaviour of RW2 remains the same as during the previous reporting periods (see status report no. 212).
Payload Activities
ASPERA
Since DOY 362 the instrument was not operated during the conjunction phase.
MAG
Since DOY 362 the instrument was not operated during the conjunction phase.
PFS
The instrument was not operated during the reporting period.
SPICAV
Since DOY 362 the instrument was not operated during the conjunction phase.
VeRa
Since DOY 362 the instrument was not operated during the conjunction phase.
VIRTIS
Since DOY 362 the instrument was not operated during the conjunction phase.
VMC
Since DOY 362 the instrument was not operated during the conjunction phase.
Future Milestones
- Venus at superior conjunction on 11 January 2010
- End of superior conjunction operations: 22 January 2010, after the communications pass
- Start of routine science operations: 23 January 2010, after the communications pass
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Legal disclaimer
This report is based on the ESOC mission operations report, MOR #216. Please see the copyright section of the legal disclaimer (bottom of this page) for terms of use.