The spacecraft has been orbiting Venus since April 2006, scientists say it will soon go out in a blaze of glory

Dec 18, 2014 15:36 GMT  ·  By

Scientists with the European Space Agency are ready to bid the Venus Express probe its eternal farewell. Thus, it appears that, having completed its epic space adventure, the Venus Express is now getting ready for its death-dive.

The spacecraft, images of which are available below, left Earth in November 2005, and reached Venus less than one year later, in April 2006. The probe placed itself in the planet's orbit and spent about 8 and a half years circling it.

During this time, the spacecraft helped scientists gain a better understanding of this neighboring planet. When at its farthest from Venus, the probe flew over the planet at a distance of about 66,000 kilometers (over 41,000 miles) from the south pole.

Its closest approach, on the other hand, brought the Venus Express probe as near as 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) from Venus' north pole, explain researchers with the European Space Agency.

Earlier this year, as the Venus Express started to run out of fuel, the scientists behind this mission allowed it to get closer and closer to its target. Between May and June, the point of orbit was lowered to 130-135 kilometers (80-84 miles).

Before this, the spacecraft was not allowed to get too close to its target for fear that it would be lost in the planet's atmosphere. Still, when the probe started running out of fuel, scientists figured they might as well let it have a closer look at Venus' atmosphere.

It is understood that the European Space Agency lost full contact with the spacecraft this past November 28. Phys Org tells us that presently the Venus Express appears to be losing altitude at a rapid pace.

This means that, soon enough, it will be engulfed by Venus' corrosive and seriously overheated atmosphere. Otherwise put, it is only a matter of time until the Venus Express spacecraft disappears, never to be seen or contacted again.

Commenting on the end of this mission, researcher Paolo Ferri said, “It has been an exciting experience to operate this marvellous spacecraft in the Venus environment.”

“The scientific success of the mission is a great reward for the work done by the operations teams and makes us more proud than sad in this moment of farewell,” the Head of European Space Agency Mission Operations added.

The Venus Express will soon be destroyed (5 Images)

Artist's impression of the Venus Express
The probe reached Venus in April 2006The spacecraft spent about 8 and a half years orbiting its target
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