Akatsuki probe enters Venus orbit

[maffski]

In December 2010 the Akatsuki probe should have entered Venus orbit, but a main engine failure did for that.

After five years waiting for the probe to rejoin Venus they have now managed to enter orbit using the thrusters originally intended for orbital manoeuvring.

Hopefully the instruments are still able to work, as the original mission only had a lifetime of a couple of years, plus the heat from an approach to the sun.

Impressive dedication - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/12/07/akatsuki_s...

[Simpo Two]

Given that half these probes seem to fail, they should launch twice as many. Overall it will save centuries.

[Hooli]

Nice recovery there.

[XM5ER]

Simpo Two said:

Given that half these probes seem to fail, they should launch twice as many. Overall it will save centuries.

If time is money, what's a century worth?