The MCR (main control room) at ESA’s Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is getting ready to accompany Venus Express on its arrival on Venus, scheduled for 11th of April. Orbit insertion manouver is going to be (as always) a tough and delicate one, and for the first ESA mission to Venus, that is going to be one of the most critical part ever.
As for now, the spacecraft looks in peferct shape:
“In the night between 16 and 17 February, Venus Express passed its VOI readiness review after a successful burn of its main engine, providing a thrust of 400 Newtons,” said Don McCoy, Venus Express Project Manager. “This was followed by a minor mid-course correction provided by the spacecraft’s four 10-Newton thrusters on 24 February.”
All the preliminary tests show nominal behaviour, and that is really reassuring after such a long journey in space. In this ESA press relase it is possible to find also a brief explanation of some of the manoeuvres that are going to be performed shortly before/during the VOI (Venus Orbit Insertion).
Let’s cross our fingers for the next 15 days, they’re surely going to be very busy and full of anxiety at ESOC! (I remeber when I have visited that control room… AMAZING!)
