The spacecraft AKATSUKI’s main purpose is to elucidate the mysteries of the Venusian atmosphere.
Akatsuki (“Dawn”), originally designated Planet-C, also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter, is a Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) mission designed to study the dynamics of the atmosphere of Venus from orbit, particularly the upper atmosphere super-rotation and the three-dimensional motion in the lower part of the atmosphere, using multi-wavelength imaging. It will also measure atmospheric temperatures and look for evidence of volcanic activity and lightning.
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2010-020D
The following video presents Exploring the Venusian Atmosphere – AKATSUKI/PLANET-C –:
The atmosphere of Venus is circulating around the planet much faster than Venus’s rotation. Such a meteorological phenomenon is called a “Super-rotation,” which never occurs on Earth. Our Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI” (PLANET-C) will try to solve the mystery of the atmospheric phenomenon of Venus.
Nikon designed and manufactured four optical systems including lenses and lens barrels, which contributed to capturing images of Venus:
- The 1-Micron Camera (IR1) images the deepest levels of the atmosphere at 0.90, 0.97, and 1.01 micron wavelengths.
- The 2-Micron Camera (IR2) images the middle and lower atmosphere at 1.73, 2.26, and 2.32 microns.
- The Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) looks at the cloud tops, at 263 and 365 nm.
- And airglows in the lower thermosphere and lightning in the clouds are imaged by the Lightning and Airglow Camera (LAC)
On December 9, 2015, JAXA announced that AKATSUKI successfully inserted into Venus’ orbit.
- In the process of inserting into Venus’ orbit, the AKATSUKI withstood in several occasions an environment with a thermal condition higher than that of the design specifications.
- The optical systems that Nikon provided were also tolerant of such harsh conditions and contributed to capturing images of Venus.
Capturing image of Venus: taken by the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) which employs Nikon’s optical systems: At around 2:19 p.m. on Dec. 7 (Japan Standard Time) at the Venus altitude of about 72,000 km
The following video presents Japan’s Akatsuki Probe Sends First Images of Venus:
It took five years of maneuvering to bring the space probe back into position for another shot. On Wednesday, JAXA confirmed Akatsuki’s successful arrival in orbit.
NEWS RELEASE
Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI”(PLANET-C) employs some optical systems made by Nikon
December 18, 2015
On December 9, 2015, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that the Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI” (PLANET-C) successfully inserted into Venus’ orbit. The AKATSUKI’s main purpose is to elucidate the mysteries of the Venusian atmosphere and it was the first Japanese space probe which inserted into planet orbit successfully.
Nikon Corporation (Kazuo Ushida, President, Tokyo) joins this project and plays a vital role in designing and manufacturing four optical systems including lenses and lens barrels, which contributed to capturing images of Venus. In the process of inserting into Venus’ orbit, the AKATSUKI withstood in several occasions an environment with a thermal condition higher than that of the design specifications. The optical systems that Nikon provided were also tolerant of such harsh conditions and contributed to capturing images of Venus.
Nikon has been collaborating in the development of many satellites and space probes including the land observing satellite DAICHI launched in January 2006, the infrared astronomy satellite AKARI launched in February 2006, and the spectroscopic planet observatory for recognition of interaction of atmosphere HISAKI launched in September 2013. Nikon will continue to support challenging projects dealing with space observation and measurement by leveraging our advanced optical design capabilities and high-precision processing technologies.
