TheEuropean Space Agency ( ESA)is bid a sad farewell to its trustworthy Venus Express probe as it easy plunges into the hellish Venusian atmospheric state , bringing its eight - twelvemonth mission to a dramatic , fiery end . Full contact was lost with the foxiness last calendar month after a serial publication of wearying manoeuvres drained its propellent , meaning ESA is no longer able to maintain its altitude . Although unmanageable to predict , ESA expects its life story will end in spectacular stylus towards the end ofJanuaryafter being sear and crushed by intense pressure and heat .
But we should n’t be too disappointed ; the Venus Express has gathered an overwhelming amount of scientific information and has far surpass its predict two - year ledge life . The probe arrive at our neighbour planet back in 2006 after being launch the old class , and quickly settled in to a 24 - hr elliptic orbit . Since then , it had been dunking in and out of the planet ’s thick , cloudy air , defiantly hoarding information for six years longer than in the first place intended .
However , earlier this year , the guile ’s propellant started running low , so ESA decided to prove out a daring , experimental tactical maneuver called aerobraking . This saw the probe dip down to dangerously down in the mouth altitude , allowing ESA to gather data on previously undiscovered regions of the atmosphere . At its lowest point , it was skimming the atmosphere at 130 kilometers above the airfoil .
ESA then raised its altitude to safer tier with a series of thruster burns , but unfortunately its lowest point of ambit began to gradually boil down again due to the satellite ’s somberness . Full communicating was then lost at the end of last calendar month , suggesting the raising simulated military operation burned up its remaining propellent . Without propellant , the wiliness ca n’t be oriented towards Earth to keep up contact , nor can its altitude be increase . Now clutched firmly by the satellite ’s gravitational clasp , the probe will go forward to slowly dive through the atmosphere over the next calendar month or so before finally burning up .
Although it ’s distressing to have to flap goodbye to such a trooper , the probe genuinely outdid itself and discover some fascinating secrets about the planet , which has been dub Earth ’s “ evil twin . ” With crushing air pressures , open temperatures of over 450oC and a choking , impenetrable atmosphere of CO2and toxic sulfuric acid clouds , Venus may seem worlds apart from Earth . But our neighbour is virtually superposable in term of size and mass , is composed of similar textile , and may have even once had a water - robust atm like our own .
NASA , via Wikimedia Commons
Indeed , the Venus Express found someevidenceto suggest that the now sear surface once sport water , perhaps even oceans like those found on Earth . moreover , much like Earth , the investigation discovered that part of the planet ’s upper standard pressure is gradually being pour forth into space , and that water is being broken up in its atmosphere .
Another interesting finding was that the major planet may still begeologically activeas evidence of recent volcanic activity was gathered . Not only were lava catamenia spotted , which were in all probability created within the last 2 million old age , but levels of atmospheric sulfur dioxide appeared to fluctuate throughout the mission , hinting at active volcanism .
ESA/ AOES . Artist ’s impression of an active volcano on Venus .
[ ViaESAandNational Geographic ]
