On the way to its actual destination, the planet Mercury, the European-Japanese space probe ‘BepiColombo’ also collected data from the area around Venus. It has been proven for the first time that our neighboring planet is losing carbon and oxygen particles into space.
This brings new insights into the development and composition of planetary atmospheres, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) announced on Friday. The measuring instruments used to demonstrate this were co-developed by the Institute for Space Research (IWF) in Graz.
Venus has no magnetic field of its own
Unlike Earth, Venus does not have its own magnetic field to protect against the solar wind. The stream of particles coming from the sun therefore accelerates ions (electrically charged atoms) in the planet’s atmosphere. This is how the ions enter space.
Previous measurements already showed that the particles consist largely of oxygen and hydrogen. A more precise distinction between oxygen, carbon and nitrogen was only now possible, the IMF wrote in a press release on Friday. The measurements of “BepiColombo” took place on August 10, 2021, about 550 kilometers from the surface of Venus. The findings have now been published in the journal ‘Nature Astronomy’.
Measuring equipment co-developed by the IWF in Graz
The IWF is involved in the magnetic field measuring equipment and the ion spectrometer used in the “BepiColombo” mission. “It is great that the years of intensive work are already paying off before ‘BepiColombo’ has even reached its destination,” said researcher and co-author David Fischer in the broadcast.
According to IWF director Christiane Helling, measurements on Venus allow us to learn more about the atmosphere and magnetosphere around planets, as well as its interaction with the solar wind. Electrons are released from Venus, creating an electric field. This probably throws the carbon and oxygen ions out of their atmosphere.
Collaboration between ESA and JAXA
“BepiColombo” is a dual spacecraft developed in collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). It was launched on October 20, 2018 and is expected to reach its destination Mercury by the end of 2025. During the journey he orbits the Earth, Venus and Mercury several times to combat the strong pull of the Sun.
‘BepiColombo’ is intended to investigate the magnetic field and the influence of the solar winds around Mercury. The researchers hope to gain insight into the planet’s internal structure. Ultimately, this should also help to better understand the core of our earth.
Source: Krone
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