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Astronomy
Mission control team readies for Venus arrival
April 21st, 2006
Venus Express mission controllers at ESA's Space Operations Centre (ESOC) are in intensive preparation for an arrival at the spacecraft's namesake destination. The critical manoeuvre will involve a deft combination of basic physics, expert spacecraft engineering and precise timing. The Venus Orbit Insertion (VOI) will mark the arrival of the first ESA mission at Venus, one of the Solar System's most enigmatic planets. Orbit insertion comprises a series of telecommands, engine burns and manoeuvres designed to slow the spacecraft from a velocity of 29,000 km per hour relative to Venus just before the first burn to an entry velocity some 15% slower,...
Source: Science Letter (2006-04-21)
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