Japan’s Venus Probe Fails to Make Orbit

Japan’s interplanetary probe intended to go into orbit around Venus has failed in its mission, the JAXA space agency said Wednesday, 200 days after it left Earth. “Akatsuki”, or “Dawn”, was intended to be the first Japanese satellite to orbit a planet other than Earth, (AFP, MSNBC and Japanese TBS Newsi).

Bill Nye of The Planetary Society issued this statement: “The Planetary Society regrets that the innovative Akatsuki spacecraft seems to have missed its opportunity to lock into an orbit of Venus. Although Akatsuki has already accomplished some remarkable things on its voyage, this setback reminds us how difficult space exploration can be.”

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