ESA Space Probe Goes Into Orbit Around Venus

[tocqueville]

By MELISSA EDDY, Associated Press Writer
27 minutes ago

DARMSTADT, Germany - A European spacecraft went into orbit Tuesday around Venus on a mission to explore the mysterious atmosphere of Earth's nearest planetary neighbor.

Mission controllers at the European Space Agency in Darmstadt cheered, clapped and embraced after they picked up the signal from the Venus Express probe, indicating it had completed the orbital maneuver.

The spacecraft disappeared behind the planet for about 10 minutes, leaving controllers without contact as it swung around the back of the planet, whose hot, dense atmosphere the mission plans to explore.

"It's a fantastic mission for us. We've finally reached Venus," said project manager Don McCoy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060411/ap_on_sc/europe_venus_mission_5