Japan's Akatsuki Probe Loses Contact, Ending Venus Observations

XA is working to reestablish communication with Akatsuki, humanity's only active mission to Venus, after losing contact in April.

Akatsuki, launched in 2010, is Japan's first successful mission to explore another planet.
The spacecraft entered Venus' orbit in 2015 after an initial failure and has been studying its climate and atmosphere.
JAXA lost contact with Akatsuki due to a prolonged low attitude stability control mode.
Efforts are ongoing to restore communication, but the mission's future remains uncertain.
Akatsuki's loss leaves a gap in Venus research until new missions launch later this decade.