JAEA

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has tried to put the Akatsuki probe into Venus’ orbit for the second time, after its first attempt failed five years ago due to a snag in the engine.

In 2010, JAXA failed to put its Akatsuki spacecraft into Venus’ orbit. Since then, the probe has been trapped orbiting the second planet from the sun.

In order to succeed in its plan to manoeuvre Akatsuki into Venus’ orbit, JAXA conducted an attitude control engine thrust operation, which involved firing the spacecraft’s engines and giving it a thrust, so it will circle around Venus.

Following the test, JAXA stated under its schedule, the duration of the thrust emission of the attitude control engine was approximately 20 minutes.

JAXA in a statement said: "The orbiter is now in good health. We are currently measuring and calculating its orbit after the operation.

"We are currently measuring and calculating its orbit after the operation."

"It will take a few days to estimate the orbit, thus we will announce the operation result once it is determined."

The Akatsuki probe is valued at $300m and its chief engine was confirmed dead after its first attempt failed.

If successful, Akatsuki will orbit Venus from beyond an average distance of 300,000 to 400,000km (186,000 to 250,000m) than originally planned distance of 80,000km (50,000m). Instead of 30 hours, the new orbit has eight or nine days of duration.

At present, there is no active probe orbiting Venus.

In 2014, the European Space Agency successfully completed its eight year long Venus Express orbiter mission.

Japan attempted its first Mars probe with Nozomi in 2003 and failed. Akatsuki is the country’s second interplanetary mission.

Image: An artist’s concept of Akatsuki orbiting Venus. Photo: courtesy of Akihiro Ikeshita / JAXA.