Venus Express (VEX) is the first Venus exploration mission of the European Space Agency. Launched in November 2005, it arrived at Venus in April 2006 and has been continuously sending back science data from its polar orbit around Venus. Equipped with seven science instruments, the main objective of the mission is the long term observation of the Venusian atmosphere. The observation over such long periods of time has never been done in previous missions to Venus, and is key to a better understanding of the atmospheric dynamics. It is hoped that such studies can contribute to an understanding of atmospheric dynamics in general, while also contributing to an understanding of climate change on Earth. The mission is currently funded by ESA through 31 December 2014.
Additional Info
- Lead Nation: Europe
- Project Website: on ESA site
- Project Wikipedia Page: on Wikipedia
Latest from Copernical Team
- Safer space travel: Scientists create a cosmic ray simulator
- A look back at 2025 for Europe’s Spaceport
- Week in images: 09-13 March 2026
- Plato readies for space-like tests
- A cosmic ray simulator for extreme science on Earth
- Earth from Space: Maritime highways in the Øresund Strait
- NASA clears its Artemis moon rocket for an April launch with four astronauts following repairs
- NASA plans to have a permanent base on the moon by 2030: How it can be done
- CELESTE pre-launch media briefing
- ESA’s HydroGNSS on track to scout for water
