Akatsuki Venus Orbiter, Carrying Messages from Hatsune Miku Fans, Concludes 15-Year mission
TOKYO - Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft, the nation’s first planetary orbiter beyond Earth, has concluded its mission after 15 years in operation, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced September 18, 2024. The spacecraft had significantly exceeded its expected lifespan.
Launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on May 21, 2010, aboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17, Akatsuki initially faced a major setback with an engine failure shortly after launch. Engineers successfully redirected the probe after a five-year drift using a smaller backup thruster, achieving orbit around Venus in December 2015.
notably, akatsuki carried a unique payload: thousands of messages adn drawings of Hatsune Miku, a popular vocaloid character, contributed by fans who participated in a pre-launch public relations campaign organized by JAXA. The messages were printed onto aluminum plates and attached to the probe as a gesture of public involvement.
During its eight years studying the Venusian atmosphere, Akatsuki made significant contributions to planetary science. These included the revelation of the largest stationary gravity waves in the Solar System, advancements in understanding Venus’s super-rotation, and the first request of Earth-style data assimilation techniques to another planet.
JAXA expressed gratitude to supporters for their role throughout the mission’s journey.
