"Launched back in2010, the Akatsuki's mission was to study weather patterns on our hellish neighboring planet. The $300 million probe - also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter - suffered an engine failure during its initial approach to Venus and spent five years of drifting around the Sun before the JAXA figured out how to rescue the craft and finally insert itinto Venus' orbit in 2015."
"Measuring at only five feet on each side, the cube-shaped probe launched with six instruments to execute its research, all of which survived thatinitial setback. However, two infrared cameras ceased working during 2016. Even with its early misfortune, the Akatsuki long surpassed its intended lifespan of 4.5 years. The 15-year mission collected eight years of data that has resulted in 178 journal papers and counting; the four remaining instruments stayedin operation until JAXA lost communication with Akatsuki in April of 2024."
Akatsuki launched in 2010 as a $300 million Venus Climate Orbiter to study atmospheric and weather patterns on Venus. An engine failure during initial approach forced the probe to drift for five years before JAXA executed a novel rescue and inserted Akatsuki into Venus orbit in 2015. The cube-shaped probe carried six instruments; two infrared cameras failed in 2016 while four instruments operated until communication was lost in April 2024. The mission lasted about 15 years, collecting eight years of data that produced at least 178 journal papers. JAXA has declared the spacecraft dead. NASA plans DAVINCI (2030) and VERITAS (2031) missions to Venus.
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