All articles tagged with #akatsuki
Astronomers using data from JAXA's Akatsuki probe identify the largest hydraulic jump in the solar system, where turbulence in Venus's lower cloud layer triggers a strong updraft that lofts sulfuric acid vapor into the upper clouds, creating a giant, slow-moving cloud front.
Scientists show that Venus’s 30-mile-high sulfuric acid clouds are generated by the solar system’s largest hydraulic jump, a vertical updraft triggered by a planet-wide eastward Kelvin wave that lifts sulfuric acid vapor to about 50 km, creating a massive cloud bank. The finding, based on new modeling, represents the first observed hydraulic jump on a planet beyond Earth and was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets.
Researchers show Venus’s colossal 6,000-km atmospheric wave results from the solar system’s largest hydraulic jump: when eastward lower-cloud flows slow abruptly, a strong vertical updraft lifts sulfuric acid vapor and creates a massive cloud disturbance that may help sustain Venus’s superrotation. The finding, based on advanced fluid-dynamics simulations and microphysical modeling, explains why previous Earth-centric models missed the phenomenon and outlines steps to incorporate this mechanism into broader Venus climate models, with potential implications for future Mars research.
Japan’s Akatsuki Venus orbiter, launched in 2010, ended operations in September 2025 after a dramatic comeback from a failed entry and a five-year drift. During more than a decade in Venus orbit it mapped the atmosphere in UV and IR, advanced understanding of super-rotation, and documented a 6,200-mile-long stationary gravity wave—the largest in the Solar System—before mission control shut down and archived the data for future study.
The Japanese spacecraft Akatsuki, which studied Venus since 2010 and provided valuable data, has been officially declared dead after losing contact in 2024, marking Japan's first successful planetary exploration. Despite setbacks, it exceeded its expected lifespan, and future missions by NASA and ESA are planned to continue Venus research. Until then, Earth’s connection to Venus is temporarily severed.
Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft, which studied Venus for nearly a decade and provided valuable insights into its atmosphere and super rotation, has been declared dead after losing contact in 2024, marking the end of humanity's last active mission to Venus.
Japan's 'Akatsuki' spacecraft, launched in 2010 to study Venus, has been decommissioned in 2024 after 15 years of operation, providing valuable atmospheric data and discoveries despite initial setbacks, with future missions planned by NASA and ESA to further explore Venus.
Japan's Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki, launched in 2010 and active until 2024, has officially ended its mission after a successful scientific run that extended beyond its expected lifespan, leaving Venus without an active orbiter for now.
Japan's Akatsuki space probe, the only active mission studying Venus, has lost contact with JAXA due to stability control issues. Efforts are underway to reestablish communication, but if unsuccessful, it will end nearly a decade of valuable observations of the planet. This would leave a significant gap in Venus research until NASA's planned missions launch in 2029 and 2031.
Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft, the only active mission studying Venus, has lost contact with Earth, jeopardizing ongoing Venus exploration. Launched in 2010, Akatsuki overcame initial setbacks to provide valuable data on Venus's atmosphere and climate. Efforts to re-establish communication have been unsuccessful, and JAXA is considering next steps as the spacecraft had already exceeded its designed lifespan.
Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft, the only operational probe at Venus, lost communication in late April due to attitude control issues. Despite surpassing its designed 4.5-year lifespan, JAXA is working to restore contact and determine the probe's future operations.
Japan's space agency JAXA has lost contact with its Venus probe Akatsuki, which has been studying the planet's climate since successfully entering orbit in 2015 after an initial failure in 2010. Efforts are underway to reestablish communication, but the spacecraft's mission may be over. Despite this setback, Akatsuki has significantly contributed to our understanding of Venus, and new missions from various space agencies are planned for the near future.
JAXA has lost communication with its Akatsuki spacecraft, the only operational probe orbiting Venus, due to a likely thruster issue. Despite efforts to restore contact, the spacecraft remains unresponsive, potentially ending a mission that overcame significant challenges to study Venus since 2016.