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Akatsuki

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description Akatsuki Overview

Akatsuki, also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter, is a JAXA spacecraft launched in 2010 to study the atmospheric dynamics of Venus. After its initial orbital insertion failed, JAXA successfully inserted it into a highly elliptical orbit around Venus in 2015, where it continues to observe the planet's thick atmosphere and cloud motions.

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What was Akatsuki designed to study?

Akatsuki, also called the Venus Climate Orbiter or Planet-C, studies the circulation, clouds, composition, lightning, and possible volcanic activity of Venus's atmosphere. JAXA launched it in 2010 from Tanegashima Space Center. [JAXA mission page](https://akatsuki.isas.jaxa.jp/en/mission/)

Why did Akatsuki enter Venus orbit in 2015 instead of 2010?

Its first Venus orbit-insertion attempt failed on December 7, 2010. After five years of orbital adjustments, JAXA successfully placed the spacecraft into an alternate elliptical Venus orbit on December 7, 2015. [JAXA mission history](https://darts.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/akatsuki)

What instruments does Akatsuki use to observe Venus?

The spacecraft carries five cameras covering infrared, visible, and ultraviolet wavelengths, plus an ultra-stable oscillator for radio-science measurements. Its elliptical orbit takes roughly 10 days to complete. [JAXA mission page](https://akatsuki.isas.jaxa.jp/en/mission/)

Was Akatsuki Japan's first probe to orbit another planet?

Yes. Akatsuki became the first Japanese spacecraft to enter orbit around a planet other than Earth when it reached Venus in 2015. [JAXA mission page](https://akatsuki.isas.jaxa.jp/en/mission/)

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