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The Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-4) for the Venus Express mission
Coates, A. J.; Kallio, E.; Fedorov, A. +43 more
The general scientific objective of the ASPERA-4 (Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms) experiment is to study the solar wind-atmosphere interaction and characterise the plasma and neutral gas environment in the near-Venus space through energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging and local charged particle measurements. The studies to be perform…
Venus Express—The first European mission to Venus
Barabash, S.; Pätzold, M.; Zhang, T. L. +24 more
Venus Express is the first European mission to planet Venus. The mission aims at a comprehensive investigation of Venus atmosphere and plasma environment and will address some important aspects of the surface physics from orbit. In particular, Venus Express will focus on the structure, composition, and dynamics of the Venus atmosphere, escape proc…
SPICAV on Venus Express: Three spectrometers to study the global structure and composition of the Venus atmosphere
Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Dimarellis, E.; Reberac, A. +33 more
Spectroscopy for the investigation of the characteristics of the atmosphere of Venus (SPICAV) is a suite of three spectrometers in the UV and IR range with a total mass of 13.9 kg flying on the Venus Express (VEX) orbiter, dedicated to the study of the atmosphere of Venus from ground level to the outermost hydrogen corona at more than 40,000 km. I…
Scientific goals for the observation of Venus by VIRTIS on ESA/Venus express mission
Baines, K. H.; Bibring, J. -P.; Langevin, Y. +41 more
The Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on board the ESA/Venus Express mission has technical specifications well suited for many science objectives of Venus exploration. VIRTIS will both comprehensively explore a plethora of atmospheric properties and processes and map optical properties of the surface through its three chan…
Structure of the Venus atmosphere
Khatuntsev, I.; Zasova, L. V.; Ignatiev, N. +1 more
The structure of the Venus atmosphere is discussed. The data obtained in the 1980s by the last Soviet missions to Venus: orbiters Venera 15, 16 and the entry probes and balloons of Vega 1 and 2 are compared with the Venus International Reference Atmosphere (VIRA) model. VIRA is based on the data of the extensive space investigations of Venus in th…
Venus Monitoring Camera for Venus Express
Dierker, C.; Jaumann, R.; Keller, H. U. +28 more
The Venus Express mission will focus on a global investigation of the Venus atmosphere and plasma environment, while additionally measuring some surface properties from orbit. The instruments PFS and SPICAV inherited from the Mars Express mission and VIRTIS from Rosetta form a powerful spectrometric and spectro-imaging payload suite. Venus Monitor…
A review of selected issues concerning the chemistry in Venus’ middle atmosphere
Allen, Mark; Mills, Franklin P.
Even after decades of study using advanced observing instruments and sophisticated numerical models, a number of significant questions remain unanswered concerning the composition and chemistry of Venus' atmosphere. The primary chemical cycles and the interactions among sulfur and chlorine radicals in Venus' middle atmosphere are reviewed to asses…
Non-LTE infrared observations at Venus: From NIMS/Galileo to VIRTIS/Venus Express
Drossart, Pierre; López-Valverde, M. A.; Carlson, Robert +2 more
Recent improvements in a comprehensive non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) model of CO 2 atmospheres has permitted a better understanding of a number of Venusian atmospheric measurements taken more than a decade ago by the "Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer" (NIMS) on board the Galileo spacecraft during its Venus fly-by. Thos…
Introduction to the Venus Express Special Issue, vol. 2
Taylor, Fredric W.