Fifteen years after launch, Japan has announced the end of the "Planet C" mission, leaving humanity with no presence around Venus. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

In May 2010, Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the "Planet C" spacecraft – also known as "Akatsuki" or the Venus Climate Orbiter – towards Earth's "sister planet". The early stages of the mission did not go as planned. On its approach to Venus in December 2010, the spacecraft was supposed to decelerate with a controlled burn to place it in orbit. But due to a malfunction with the main engine , the planned 12-minute burn lasted just three, and Planet C shot well past its target instead.

That could have been the end of it, but JAXA was able

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