あかつき
Akatsuki studied Venus for a decade before going dark in April 2024.
The last spacecraft studying Venus up close was Japan's Akatsuki orbiter, which is now out of commission.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has ended efforts to regain contact with Akatsuki after more than a year.
Akatsuki was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on May 21, 2010, using the H-IIA rocket No. 17.
Five years later, in December 2015, Akatsuki successfully performed a maneuver using attitude control thrusters to achieve orbit around Venus.
Despite recovery operations, planned communication restoration was not anticipated, leading to the conclusion of Akatsuki's operations due to significantly exceeding its design lifespan.
Akatsuki became Japan's first spacecraft to orbit a planet other than Earth.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) officially ended operations of the Venus probe Akatsuki (PLANET-C) on September 18.
Akatsuki conducted observations of the Venusian atmosphere for over eight years, resulting in scientific achievements related to planetary meteorology.
Akatsuki experienced a main engine malfunction and failed to achieve Venus orbital insertion in December 2010.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Akatsuki orbiter was launched in 2010.