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    No. 58 - Catching a Solar Flare

    22 Dec 2006 09:55

    Report for Period 9 December to 16 December 2006

    During the reporting period the mission operations have been conducted according to the plan.

    The table below shows a chronology of the main activities in the reporting period:

    MET (Day) Date DOY VPER# Main Activity
    397 10/12/06 344 233 Routine mission operations
    398 11/12/06 345 234 Routine mission operations
    399 12/12/06 346 235 Routine Mission operations run on VEMCB
    400 13/12/06 347 236 Routine mission operations run on VEMCB
    401 14/12/06 348 237 Routine mission operations run on VEMCB
    402 15/12/06 349 238 Routine mission operations.  Shortened pass due to monthly maintenance at CEB.

    Operations swapped to VEMCA configured as prime.
    403 16/12/06 350 239 Routine mission operations
    404 17/12/06 351 240 Routine mission operations
    405 18/12/06 352 241 Routine mission operations

    At the end of the last Cebreros pass in the reporting period (DOY 350, 16:00z) Venus Express was orbiting Venus at 247 million km from the Earth. The one-way signal travel time was 825.5 seconds.

    Spacecraft Status

    On 5 and 6 December flight dynamics reported noisy Doppler data - which is likely caused by a solar flare.

    The influence of a solar flare on the Doppler data

    Payload Activities

    ASPERA
    The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.

    MAG
    The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.

    PFS
    This instrument is OFF and is not operated.

    SPICAV
    The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.

    VeRA
    The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.

    VIRTIS
    The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.

    VMC
    The instrument is regularly operated as part of the routine plan.

    Mission Planning

    Short Term Planning
    POR pre check was performed for STP034, STP035, STP 036 and STP037.

    Medium Term Planning
    The planning for MTP012 has been completed successfully, the activities have been approved.

    Long Term Planning
    Finally a decision has been taken to request DSN support for the "movie"observation.  This will be confirmed in a later report.

    Future Milestones

    The second Earth occultation season has started with additional Radio Science operations with the ESA New Norcia station.

    Planning of the entire Christmas period will be completed this week (STPs 34 through 37, plus MTPs 11 and 12).


    Last Update: 22 Dec 2006

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