Venus Express Science Objectives: Earth and Venus

The video describes the scientific ojectives behind the Venus Express mission. Venus is Earth's twin sister planet. However, its atmosphere is completely different from that of Earth. Temperatures are extremely high and its atmosphere is full of carbon dioxide.Its surface reminiscent of Dante's description of hell and at high altitudes its atmosphere is continously swept by hurricane winds.However,at 80 kilometres of altitude the intriguing phenonomen of absortion of ultraviolet wavelengths may be considered as a possible indication of biological activity. Finally, Venus rotates backwards with respect to Earth and very slowly so that a venusian day is 243 Earth's days ! Venus Express is the first European mission to Venus and with its many instruments will investigate on the nature and evolution of Venus in a global way.