Venus Express plunging into the atmosphere

Date: Tue, Jul 08, 2014 | 06:30 - 06:42 GMT | 08:30 - 08:42 CEST

Replay: Tue, Jul 08, 2014 | 15:00 - 15:12 GMT | 17:00 - 17:12 CEST

Type: ESA TV Exchange

Format: 16:9

After eight years in orbit, ESA’s Venus Express has completed routine science observations and is preparing for a daring plunge into the planet’s hostile atmosphere.

Venus Express was launched on 9 November 2005, and arrived at Venus on 11 April 2006.

It has been orbiting Venus in an elliptical 24-hour loop that takes it from a distant 66 000 km over the south pole – affording incredible global views – to an altitude of around 250 km above the surface at the north pole, close to the top of the planet’s atmosphere.

With a suite of seven instruments, the spacecraft has provided a comprehensive study of the ionosphere, atmosphere and surface of Venus.

It includes interviews in English with Patrick Martin, ESA Venus Express mission manager and Håkan Svedhem, ESA  Venus Express mission scientist.

More information at: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Venus_Express

Preview and download:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2014/07/Venus_Express_plunging_into_the_atmosphere

Script:
EbS97093.doc

Satellite Parameters: Eutelsat 9A at 9 degrees E, transponder 59, downlink frequency 11900.1 horizontally polarised, symbol rate 27,500 FEC 2/3.