Archive · 18 Sep 2025
JAXA Ends Akatsuki Mission: Venus Orbiter's Journey Concludes
Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft, which has been orbiting Venus, has ended its mission.
Launched in 2010, it reached Venus in 2015 after an engine issue and spent years studying the planet's atmosphere.
The orbiter gathered data on Venus, including how temperature changes at different heights and how the planet's atmosphere rotates.
It lost contact in April 2024 and, given its age, JAXA decided to terminate operations.
This leaves humanity without an active Venus orbiter for now, requiring the next mission to learn more about the planet.
JAXA terminated the Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter operations.
Akatsuki launched in 2010 and entered Venus orbit in December 2015.
The spacecraft studied Venus' atmosphere and weather systems for over eight years.
Communication was lost in April 2024 due to spacecraft instability.
The mission's end leaves humanity without a current active Venus orbiter.
- Who
- JAXA
- What
- Ended operations of the Akatsuki Venus orbiter.
- When
- Announced September 18th, 2025.
- Where
- Venus
- Why
- Due to spacecraft aging and loss of communication.
- Spacecraft Name
- Akatsuki
- Launch Date
- May 21st, 2010
- Operator
- JAXA
- Orbit
- Venus
- Operational Period
- December 2015 - September 2025
- Primary Purpose
- Venus Climate Orbiter