Venus explorations will continue
December 7th, when Akatsuki entered the orbit around Venus, is coming again this year. With the support of everyone, Akatsuki spent the past year without any trouble and keeps collecting data. In Venus explorations other than Akatsuki this year, there has been great progress in the world. European countries decided to send EnVision, and USA decided to send VERITAS and DAVINCI+ to Venus. Unlike Akatsuki, these spacecrafts will primarily investigate geography and atmosphere evolution of Venus. An European researcher gave a warm message that they will go the way paved by Akatsuki. I sincerely hope that research on Venus will continue to progress with many spacecrafts, and Akatsuki will contribute to that as well.
Masato Nakamura, Project Manager