Akatsuki Venus Orbital Insertion

[Frida Space]

3 hours ago, fredinno said:

Is it possible to use aerobraking to reduce the orbit to its originally intended orbit?

It was considered as an alternative to the KSP-esque insertion orbit. However, as project manager Nakamura puts it, "aerobraking would be difficult because the atmosphere of Venus is always expanding and contracting; it's hard to forecast"

[fredinno]

13 minutes ago, Frida Space said:

It was considered as an alternative to the KSP-esque insertion orbit. However, as project manager Nakamura puts it, "aerobraking would be difficult because the atmosphere of Venus is always expanding and contracting; it's hard to forecast"

And Mars' doesn't? And why does the atmosphere change so much?

[Wjolcz]

1 hour ago, fredinno said:

And Mars' doesn't? And why does the atmosphere change so much?

1st question: it's probably more of a matter of atmosphere density than the expansion. If the probe hits the atmosphere and it ends up being too high it might damage some instruments. At least that's what I would assume so.

2nd question: probably day/night temperature differences + atmosphere rotation?

[Frida Space]

9 hours ago, Veeltch said:

1st question: it's probably more of a matter of atmosphere density than the expansion. If the probe hits the atmosphere and it ends up being too high it might damage some instruments. At least that's what I would assume so.

Yea, I'm guessing it's a mix of the two. If you have a very dense atmosphere that is contracting and expanding unpredictably, you don't want to fly too close to the planet, I'm assuming.

[todofwar]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2016/06/13/japanese_space_probe_akatsuki_is_now_sending_back_images_and_data_from_venus.html

Very nice shot of Venus in the IR, and an animation showing cloud motion over time. The equator seems quite stormy. 

[Frida Space]

Ten days ago, Akatsuki marked its first Venusian year since Venus Orbit Insertion. To celebrate, JAXA published 7 new portraits by Akatsuki.

Left column

Top photo

Camera: IR1 - Wavelength: 1.01 micrometres - Date Taken: 21/1 - Distance: 38'000 km - Description: Map of the heat coming from the ground (rocks, vulcanos...). The darker region is Aphrodite Terra.

Middle photo

Camera: IR1 - Wavelength: 0.9 micrometers - Date Taken: 7/5 - Distance: 65'000 km - Description: The sunlit face of Venus.

Bottom photo

Camera: LIR - Wavelength: 10 micrometers - Date Taken: 15/4 - Distance: 63'000 km - Description: Map of the heat coming from the cloudtops. Over the south pole, the temperatures are much higher, hence brighter colour.

Middle column

Top photo

Camera: UVI - Wavelength: 283 nanometres - Date Taken: 25/4 - Distance: 108'000 km - Description: Image centred at an absorption line of sulfur dioxide, a precursor to sulfuric acid.

Middle photo

Camera: UVI - Wavelength: 365 nanometres - Date Taken: 7/5 - Distance: 80'000 km - Description: The image's high natural contrast reveals the structure and the dynamics of the atmosphere.

Bottom photo

Camera: IR2 - Wavelength: 2.02 micrometres - Date Taken: 7/5 - Distance: 81'000 km - Description: The distribution of carbon dioxide, the main gas within Venus' atmosphere. The cloudtops over the polar regions are quite low in altitude, hence they appear darker.

Right column (big photo)

Camera: IR2 - Wavelength: 2.26 micrometers - Date Taken: ?/4 - Distance: 76'000 km - Description: Venus' nightside. The map shows the heat coming from the lower reaches of the atmosphere, just above the surface.

Edited July 29, 2016 by Frida Space

[insert_name]

This seems like the right place for this,

Atasuki found some streaks within the atmosphere of Venus

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190110091004.htm