National News Akatsuki probe fails to enter Venus orbit

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After a nearly seven-month journey, the space probe Akatsuki has failed to enter Venus orbit, most likely overshooting the planet, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said Dec. 8.

Despite the failure Dec. 7, the probe, which was sent up May 21, may have another chance when it comes close to the planet again in six years, JAXA said.

Japan has yet to place a space probe in orbit around a planet other than Earth, following an earlier failed attempt between 1998 and 2003 to get a probe into Mars orbit.

"I'm sorry that we failed to meet the expectations of the public," said Akatsuki project manager Masato Nakamura in a news conference at JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Developed at a cost of 25.2 billion yen, the probe must stay operable for six years to have another pass at Venus.

"Hopefully speaking, I think the likelihood (of success in six years) is high," Nakamura said. (Kyodo News, AP)

金星探査機「あかつき」、軌道投入失敗

5月21日に打ち上げられた日本初の金星探査機「あかつき」の金星周回軌道への投入が失敗に終わった。

Shukan ST: December 17, 2010

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