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Japan's Akatsuki Loses Contact, Ending Decade-Long Venus Mission

11/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft has officially lost contact, ending its Venus mission after more than a decade of study.
Launched in 2010, Akatsuki provided data on Venus's atmosphere and weather systems despite early setbacks.
NASA's DAVINCI and VERITAS are slated for early 2030s, alongside the European Space Agency's EnVision mission.
India plans the Shukrayaan Venus Orbiter Mission for 2028.
These missions will study Venus's surface and atmosphere and assess past habitability.

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Story summary

Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft has officially lost contact, ending its Venus mission after more than a decade of study.
Launched in 2010, Akatsuki provided data on Venus's atmosphere and weather systems despite early setbacks.
NASA's DAVINCI and VERITAS are slated for early 2030s, alongside the European Space Agency's EnVision mission.
India plans the Shukrayaan Venus Orbiter Mission for 2028.
These missions will study Venus's surface and atmosphere and assess past habitability.