Akatsuki
Akatsuki was the sole PLANET-C spacecraft, launched for JAXA on May 21, 2010. A failed first Venus-orbit insertion left it circling the Sun until a recovery manoeuvre placed it around Venus in December 2015. It observed the planet's atmosphere for more than eight years before communications were lost in late April 2024; JAXA ended operations on September 18, 2025.
Identity
- Aliases
- PLANET-C spacecraftVenus Climate Orbiter
- Name
- Akatsuki
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- Akatsuki was the sole PLANET-C spacecraft, launched for JAXA on May 21, 2010. A failed first Venus-orbit insertion left it circling the Sun until a recovery manoeuvre placed it around Venus in December 2015. It observed the planet's atmosphere for more than eight years before communications were lost in late April 2024; JAXA ended operations on September 18, 2025.
- First Flight Date
- 2010-05-21
- Operator
- Vehicle Family
Links
- Official Url
- https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sas/planet_c/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 30, 2026 at 03:48:27 UTC
- Updated Time
- July 30, 2026 at 03:48:27 UTC
Other
- Last Flight Date
- 2025-09-18
- Programs
- -
- Vehicle Code
- PLANET-C