Venus space probe goes into orbit around the planet

A European spacecraft went into orbit on Tuesday around Venus on a mission to explore the mysterious atmosphere of Earth?s nearest planetary neighbour.

A European spacecraft went into orbit on Tuesday around Venus on a mission to explore the mysterious atmosphere of Earth’s nearest planetary neighbour.

Mission controllers at the European Space Agency in Darmstadt cheered, clapped and embraced after they picked up the signal from the Venus Express probe, indicating it had completed the orbital manoeuvre.

The spacecraft disappeared behind the planet for about 10 minutes, leaving controllers without contact as it swung around the back of the planet, whose hot, dense atmosphere the mission plans to explore.

Of key importance will be studying Venus’ strong greenhouse effect and the permanent hurricane force winds that constantly circle it high in the atmosphere.

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