The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully launched the Venus climate orbiter, Akatsuki (PLANET-C) aboard H-IIA Launch Vehicle No 17 (H-IIA F17).

Akatsuki separated from the launch vehicle after 27 minutes and 29 seconds into the launch.

PLANET-C aims to gain insight into the atmospheric circulation of Venus through systematic, continuous imaging observations.

With an equatorial elongated orbit and westward revolution, the probe will observe movement and temporal variation of the Venusian atmosphere.

Four cameras fitted to the satellite and featuring ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths will detect lightning with a high-speed imager and observe the vertical structure of the atmosphere with radio science techniques.

The Venus mission will also cover exploration of the planets surface and the observation of zodiacal light complementing the ESA’s Venus Express.

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