Venus Orbiter Research Articles

Ground-based observation of the cyclic nature and temporal variability of planetary-scale UV features at the Venus cloud top level

A planetary-scale bright and dark UV feature, known as the “Y-feature,” rotates around Venus with a period of 4–5 days and has been long-time interpreted as planetary waves. When assuming this, its rotation period and spatial structure might help to understand the propagation of the planetary-scale waves and find out their role in the acceleration-deceleration of the zonal wind speed, which is essential for understanding the super-rotation of the planet. The rotation period of the UV feature varied over the course of observation by the Pioneer Venus orbiter. However, in previous explorations of Venus such as Pioneer Venus and Venus Express, the spacecraft were operated in nearly fixed inertial space. As a result, the periodicity variations on sub-yearly timescales (one Venusian year is ∼224 Earth days) were obscured by the limitations of continuous dayside observations. We newly conducted six periods of ground-based Venus imaging observations at 365nm from mid-August 2013 to the end of June 2014. Each observation period spanned over half or one month, enabling long-term monitoring of Venus’ atmosphere above the equator region. Distributions of the relative brightness were obtained from the equatorial (EQ) to mid-latitudinal regions in both hemispheres, and from the cyclical variations of these distributions we deduced the rotation periods of the UV features of the cloud tops brightness. The relative brightness exhibited periods of 5.2 and 3.5 days above 90% of significance. The relative intensities of these two significant components also seemed subject to temporal variations. Although the 3.5-day component considered persists throughout the observation periods, its dominance over the longer period varied in a cyclic fashion. The prevailing first significant mode seems to change from 5.2-day waves to 3.5-day waves in about nine months, which is clearly inconsistent with the Venusian year. Clear periodic perturbations, indicating stability of the planetary-scale UV-feature, were observed only in the presence of single longer or shorter periodic waves. During the transition periods of dominant-wave changing, the amplitude of the relative brightness was largely changed. This can be explained by the deformation of the Y-shaped UV feature as observed by Pioneer Venus in 1979.

AKATSUKI returns to Venus

AKATSUKI is the Japanese Venus Climate Orbiter that was designed to investigate the climate system of Venus. The orbiter was launched on May 21, 2010, and it reached Venus on December 7, 2010. Thrust was applied by the orbital maneuver engine in an attempt to put AKATSUKI into a westward equatorial orbit around Venus with a 30-h orbital period. However, this operation failed because of a malfunction in the propulsion system. After this failure, the spacecraft orbited the Sun for 5 years. On December 7, 2015, AKATSUKI once again approached Venus and the Venus orbit insertion was successful, whereby a westward equatorial orbit with apoapsis of ~440,000 km and orbital period of 14 days was initiated. Now that AKATSUKI’s long journey to Venus has ended, it will provide scientific data on the Venusian climate system for two or more years. For the purpose of both decreasing the apoapsis altitude and avoiding a long eclipse during the orbit, a trim maneuver was performed at the first periapsis. The apoapsis altitude is now ~360,000 km with a periapsis altitude of 1000–8000 km, and the period is 10 days and 12 h. In this paper, we describe the details of the Venus orbit insertion-revenge 1 (VOI-R1) and the new orbit, the expected scientific information to be obtained at this orbit, and the Venus images captured by the onboard 1-µm infrared camera, ultraviolet imager, and long-wave infrared camera 2 h after the successful initiation of the VOI-R1.

Modeling of flat-plate solar thermoelectric generators for space applications

A model for a flat-plate solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) with sandwich-like structure is established in this paper. The influence of the thermal concentration ratio, length of the thermoelectric legs and other geometrical factors on the performance of the STEG are investigated by numerical calculations. The results indicate that the maximum conversion efficiency and output power per unit mass can reach 5.5% and 6.5W/kg, respectively, for Bi2Te3 based STEGs working in the Earth’s orbit. For PbTe based STEGs working in the orbits of Venus and Mercury, the maximum conversion efficiency can reach 4.7% and 5.8%, respectively. It is also shown that, under high intensity radiation, the conversion efficiency of a flat-plate STEG can be maintained at a relatively stable level by adjusting the device geometry, which is precisely the advantage of STEG when compared to photovoltaic devices.

Road to the first star: Venus orbiter from Japan (26) - Arrival at Venus -

Road to the first star: Venus orbiter from Japan (26) - Arrival at Venus -

Japanese probe succeeds in second try at Venus orbit

Japanese probe succeeds in second try at Venus orbit

Japanese probe successfully enters Venus's orbit

Japanese probe successfully enters Venus's orbit

Design of the Recovery Trajectory for JAXA Venus Orbiter Akatsuki

Akatsuki (“dawn” in Japanese) is the JAXA Venus orbiter that was scheduled to enter orbit around Venus on Dec. 7 th , 2010. Following the failure of the main engine during the orbit insertion maneuver, the spacecraft escaped Venus on a 200-day orbit around the Sun, only to return in early 2017. This paper presents the design and implementation of the recovery trajectory, which involves perihelion maneuvers to re-encounter Venus in late 2015. Relying only on the onboard propellant, the trajectory rescued the mission by (1) anticipating the beginning of the science phase within the nominal lifetime of the spacecraft, and (2) halving the Δv requirements for the orbit insertion maneuver. Several trajectories are designed with an innovative use of a technique called non-tangent V-Infinity Leveraging Transfers (VILTs). Candidate solutions are then recomputed in higher fidelity models, and one solution is finally selected for its low Δv requirements and for programmatic reasons. The results of the perihelion maneuver campaign are also presented.

The Venus–solar wind interaction: Is it purely ionospheric?

The Venus solar wind interaction is often regarded as the prototypical example of an induced magnetosphere. Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) observations during a period of moderate to strong solar EUV fluxes led to a fairly detailed picture in which the currents in the conducting ionosphere produce a nearly impenetrable obstacle to the incident magnetized plasma flow, resulting in a classical draped field magnetosheath region and a comet-like magnetotail. Inspired by the availability of Venus Express (VEX) observations from the north polar region, and their sometimes unexpected behavior, we reanalyzed the observed Venus wake magnetic fields in the altitude range ~150 to ~450km to determine whether some signature of a weak planetary field could have been missed. Our results suggest the presence of a small (few nT) but persistent radial field direction bias in the deep nightside, low to mid-latitude range sampled on PVO. The bias has a hemispheric dependence, with the more positive (outward) fields in the south and the more negative (inward) fields in the north. However the VEX counterpart of these data, obtained just nightward of the north polar terminator, shows no significant bias. This observation raises several questions about our understanding of the fields at the surface of Venus. We investigate whether the PVO radial field bias could be the subtle signature of a weak global dipole with , higher by ~10× than the previously established upper limits. A weak dipole solar wind interaction model produces results in the center of the low altitude wake that compare favorably with the observed field bias seen by PVO; however, the lack of agreement with the higher latitude and VEX observations suggests other explanations need to be considered. For example, effects related to previously observed convection electric field-controlled hemispheric asymmetries provide a possible alternative, as are external fields that diffuse into and through the interior. This work points out the need for better understanding the features introduced by species-dependent plasma processes, and the role of the planet itself, in deciphering weakly magnetized planet interactions.

一番星へ行こう! 日本の金星探査機の挑戦 その23 : 金星探査機あかつきの電源系機器開発と運用

一番星へ行こう! 日本の金星探査機の挑戦 その23 : 金星探査機あかつきの電源系機器開発と運用

一番星へ行こう!日本の金星探査機の挑戦 その22 : 米国航空宇宙局深宇宙ネットワークの活躍と貢献

一番星へ行こう!日本の金星探査機の挑戦 その22 : 米国航空宇宙局深宇宙ネットワークの活躍と貢献

CONSOLIDATING AND CRUSHING EXOPLANETS: DID IT HAPPEN HERE?

The Kepler mission results indicate that systems of tightly packed inner planets (STIPs) are present around of order 5% of FGK field stars (whose median age is ~5 Gyr). We propose that STIPs initially surrounded nearly all such stars, and those observed are the final survivors of a process in which long-term metastability eventually ceases and the systems proceed to collisional consolidation or destruction, losing roughly equal fractions of systems every decade in time. In this context, we also propose that our solar system initially contained additional large planets interior to the current orbit of Venus, which survived in a metastable dynamical configuration for 1%–10% of the solar system's age. Long-term gravitational perturbations caused the system orbits to cross, leading to a cataclysmic event that left Mercury as the sole surviving relic.

Solar zenith angle‐dependent asymmetries in Venusian bow shock location revealed by Venus Express

AbstractIt has been long known that the Venusian bow shock (BS) location is asymmetric from the observations of the long‐lived Pioneer Venus Orbiter mission. The Venus Express (VEX) mission crossed BS near perpendicularly not only in the terminator region but also in the near‐subsolar and tail regions. Taking the advantage of VEX orbit geometry, we examined a large data set of BS crossings observed during the long‐lasting solar minimum between solar cycles 23 and 24 and found that the Venusian BS asymmetries exhibit dependence of solar zenith angle. In the terminator and tail regions, both the magnetic pole‐equator and north‐south asymmetries are observed in Venusian BS location, which is similar to the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) observation near terminator. However, in the near‐subsolar region, only the magnetic north‐south is observed; i.e., the BS shape is indented inward over magnetic south pole and bulged outward over magnetic north pole. The absence of the magnetic pole‐equator asymmetry in the near‐subsolar region suggests that the magnetic pole‐equator asymmetry is mainly caused by the asymmetric wave propagation rather than the ion pickup process. The evident magnetic north‐south asymmetry in solar minimum, which is not observed by PVO, suggests that even during the low long‐lasting solar minimum, the ion pickup process is very important in Venusian space environment.

Characterizing the low‐altitude magnetic belt at Venus: Complementary observations from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Venus Express

AbstractUsing Venus Express, Zhang et al. (2012b) identified strong magnetic field enhancements at low altitudes over the north polar region of Venus as giant flux ropes. Strong fields at low altitudes were also observed during the Pioneer Venus Orbiter mission, but at low latitudes near the subsolar and midnight regions. We examine the possibility that the Venus Express observations are not giant flux ropes, but part of a low‐altitude magnetic belt that builds up in the subsolar region, passes over the terminator, and extends to the nightside. Our analysis indicates the magnetic belt is dominantly horizontal over the dayside and gains a radial component nightward. The peak magnetic field strength of the belt and the altitude at which it peaks also varies around the planet, with the lowest altitude and strongest field strength in the subsolar region, consistent with the idea of the belt forming on the dayside. Zhang et al. (2012b) also noted the fields in the polar region had a bias in the +By direction in Venus Solar Orbital coordinates. The multifluid magnetohydrodynamic simulation we present shows an asymmetry in the plasma flow from the subsolar region to the poles due to the oxygen ion and proton mass ratio. This causes the magnetic field to preferentially accumulate in the north for a +By interplanetary magnetic field direction, providing an explanation for this bias.

Gamma rays and cosmic rays at Venus: The Pioneer Venus gamma ray detector and considerations for future measurements

We draw attention to, and present a summary archive of the data from, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Gamma-ray Burst Detector (OGBD), an instrument not originally conceived with Venus science in mind. We consider the possibility of gamma-ray flashes generated by lightning and model the propagation of gamma rays in the Venusian atmosphere, finding that if gamma rays originate at the upper range of reported cloud top altitudes (75km altitude), they may be attenuated by factors of only a few, whereas from 60km altitude they are attenuated by over two orders of magnitude. The present archive is too heavily averaged to reliably detect such a source (and we appeal to investigators who may have retained a higher-resolution archive), but the data do provide a useful and unique record of the cosmic ray flux at Venus 1978–1993. We consider other applications of future orbital gamma ray data, such as atmospheric occultations and the detection of volcanic materials injected high in the atmosphere.

The shape of the Venusian bow shock at solar minimum and maximum: Revisit based on VEX observations

Several factors control the bow shock position at Venus, including short-term period responses (solar wind dynamic pressure) and long-term period variations (solar activity). Based on Venus Express (VEX) observations, we revisit the influence of solar activity on the Venusian bow shock location, by accurately determining not only the shock terminator distance but also the subsolar point with a three-parameter fit (TPF) method. At the same time, VEX covers a larger range of solar zenith angles (SZA) at the Venusian bow shock (from about 10 to 135 degrees) than the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) spacecraft. Fitting results display that the Venusian bow shock is farther away from Venus at solar maximum than at solar minimum. The subsolar stand-off distance increases from 1.364 planetary radii at solar minimum to 1.459RV at solar maximum, while the terminator shock distance changes from 2.087RV to 2.146RV. Inspection of the bow shock and the induced magnetosphere boundary (IMB) locations clearly shows a positive correlation for every orbit, while the average bow shock location is not responsive to changes in the solar wind dynamic pressure.

Road to the first star: Venus orbiter from Japan (25) —The cameras awaken after 5 years of sleep—

Road to the first star: Venus orbiter from Japan (25) —The cameras awaken after 5 years of sleep—

The role of dynamics on the habitability of an Earth-like planet

AbstractFrom the numerous detected planets outside the Solar System, no terrestrial planet comparable with our Earth has been discovered so far. The search for an Exo-Earth is certainly a big challenge which may require the detections of planetary systems resembling our Solar System in order to find life like on Earth. However, even if we find Solar System analogues, it is not certain that a planet in Earth position will have similar circumstances as those of the Earth. Small changes in the architecture of the giant planets can lead to orbital perturbations which may change the conditions of habitability for a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone (HZ). We present a numerical investigation where we first study the motion of test-planets in a particular Jupiter–Saturn configuration for which we can expect strong gravitational perturbations on the motion at the Earth's position according to a previous work. In this study, we show that these strong perturbations can be reduced significantly by the neighbouring planets of Earth. In the second part of our study, we investigate the motion of test-planets in inclined Jupiter–Saturn systems where we analyse changes in the dynamical behaviour of the inner planetary system. Moderate values of inclination seem to counteract the perturbations in the HZ, while high inclinations induce more chaos in this region. Finally, we carry out a stability study of the actual orbits of Venus, Earth and Mars moving in the inclined Jupiter–Saturn systems for which we used the Solar System parameters. This study shows that the three terrestrial planets will only move in low-eccentric orbits if Saturn's inclination is ≤10°. Therefore, it seems that it is advantageous for the habitability of Earth when all planets move nearly in the same plane.

The extension of ionospheric holes into the tail of Venus

AbstractIonospheric holes are Cytherian nightside phenomena discovered by the NASA Pioneer Venus Orbiter, featuring localized plasma depletions driven by prominent and unexplained enhancements in the draped interplanetary magnetic field. Observed only during solar maximum, the phenomenon remains unexplained, despite their frequent observation during the first 3 years of the mission and more than 30 years having elapsed since their first description in the literature. We present new observations by the European Space Agency Venus Express showing that ionospheric holes can extend much further into the tail than previously anticipated (1.2 to 2.4 planetary radii) and may be observed throughout the solar cycle and over a wide range of solar wind conditions. We find that ionospheric holes are a manifestation of a deeper underlying phenomenon: tubes of enhanced draped interplanetary magnetic field that emerge in pairs from below the ionosphere and stretch far down the tail. We speculate on two possible explanations for the magnetic fields underlying the phenomena: magnetic pileup due to stagnation of ionospheric flow and internal draping around a metallic core.

Periodicity Domains and the Transit of Venus

A transit of Venus occurs when it passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. A straightforward linear algebraic model for the orbits of Earth and Venus—essentially using one parameter, namely, the relative angular velocity σ of Venus—is powerful enough to generate respectable transit year predictions. We generalize, allowing σ to vary; uncover an algebraic analog for predicting transits; and show that time cycles for transits are what they are because each σ is sufficiently close to a suitably simple rational number, which for Venus is 13/8, and which in turn induces a modulo 8 shuffling of successive transit years by a factor of 3.

Observations and analysis of phase scintillation of spacecraft signal on the interplanetary plasma

Aims. The phase scintillation of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Venus Express (VEX) spacecraft telemetry signal was observed at X-band (\lambda = 3.6 cm) with a number of radio telescopes of the European VLBI Network (EVN) in the period 2009-2013. Methods. We found a phase fluctuation spectrum along the Venus orbit with a nearly constant spectral index of -2.42 +/-0.25 over the full range of solar elongation angles from 0{\deg} to 45{\deg}, which is consistent with Kolmogorov turbulence. Radio astronomical observations of spacecraft signals within the solar system give a unique opportunity to study the temporal behaviour of the signal's phase fluctuations caused by its propagation through the interplanetary plasma and the Earth's ionosphere. This gives complementary data to the classical interplanetary scintillation (IPS) study based on observations of the flux variability of distant natural radio sources. Results. We present here our technique and the results on IPS. We compare these with the total electron content (TEC) for the line of sight through the solar wind. Finally, we evaluate the applicability of the presented technique to phase-referencing Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and Doppler observations of currently operational and prospective space missions.