Akatsuki
ActiveLaunched in 2010·Venus orbit — 400,000 km
A Japanese Venus orbiter: studies the super-rotation of the atmosphere and its sulfuric acid clouds.
Main objectives
- Study the atmosphere and meteorology of Venus.
- Map the clouds and super-rotations over the long term.
- Complement data from earlier probes (Magellan, Venus Express).
Did you know?
Missed its first orbit insertion in 2010, then recovered successfully 5 years later in 2015.
Timeline
May 21, 2010
Launch
H-IIA from Tanegashima.
Dec 07, 2015
Orbit insertion (2nd attempt)
Capture around Venus, 5 years after the initial failure.
Akatsuki
Instruments
[05]Specifications
Mass
Orbit