Satellites and Probes
VenusExpress Probe
| Venus Express approaching Venus. Picture: ESA |
Venus Express is the first probe that the European Space Agency has sent to investigate our neighboring planet Venus. It studies the planet's atmosphere and clouds with unprecedented accuracy.
Venus Express utilizes measuring devices and knowledge developed for the Rosetta and Mars Express probes. The study will provide various information about Venus, such as its surface formation, atmospheric composition, clouds, temperatures, and pressures in different parts of the atmosphere. In addition, Venus will be photographed with extremely advanced cameras that are able to detect ultraviolet to infrared objects. This research helps us to understand our own planet better.
Venus Express was launched on November 9, 2005. The launch was delayed by two weeks because pieces of thermal insulation had managed to get into the satellite's protective covers. The probe will spend up to five years revolving around Venus.
The Finnish industry and scientific community are involved in the research and development work for Venus Express:
- The Meteorological Institute has designed the Aspera-4 research device that provides information about the phenomena of the upper atmosphere of Venus and the particle escape taking place in it. The study will also provide more information about the atmosphere of the other planets in our solar system.
- Patria Advanced Solutions has created the probe's power distributing unit, which is an important factor in the probe's ability to function in its task. The Finnish-designed device transfers electric energy collected through solar panels into the probe's subsystems and measuring devices.
For more information visit ESA's VenusExpress page.
