Venus Express Arrives at Venus
Explanation:
Humanity now has a spacecraft orbiting Venus.
The robotic
Venus Express spacecraft
launched by the
European Space Agency
in 2005 November arrived at
Venus in 2006 April.
Venus Express is now orbiting Earth's sister planet and returning pictures.
Pictured above is a false-color, time-lapse movie in
ultraviolet light
captured by the Venus Express spacecraft as it flew over
Venus' northern hemisphere in late May.
Venus Express is scheduled to orbit
Venus for three years and collect data that might help in answering
questions that include why Venus continually generates
hurricane-force winds,
why Venus became
so hot in the past, and if there is any current volcanic
activity on
Venus.
It is hoped that a better understanding of
Venus's hot and inhospitable climate will help humanity better understand
Earth's climate as well.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
