On this day in space! Nov. 8, 2005: Europe launches Venus Express, its first mission to Venus
On Nov. 8, 2005, Europe launched its first mission to Venus. Here's why Venus Express mattered.
On November 8, 2005, Europe launched its first mission to Venus with the spacecraft named Venus Express. Venus, a planet with extreme heat, presents a challenge for any spacecraft exploring its surface. Yet, the Venus Express managed to survive more than nine years in orbit despite enduring intense radiation. During its mission, it captured intriguing images, such as a swirling vortex near the south pole of Venus and possibly active volcanoes.
A unique discovery was the presence of auroras on Venus, occurring when solar particles collided with charged particles in the atmosphere. In the final phase of its mission, Venus Express was instructed to dive into the planet's clouds, a maneuver it was not designed for but it executed successfully. However, after a few days, the spacecraft stopped responding to commands from Earth.
In January 2015, it burned up in Venus' atmosphere. This mission marked a significant achievement for Europe, positioning ESA as the third space organization to successfully study Venus after the United States and the Soviet Union. The mission's findings contributed to understanding the evolution of Earth-like planets and their potential to transform into habitable worlds.
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