The Venus Express team said the spacecraft's systems are ready for the orbit insertion around Venus and for the first in-orbit operations. Controllers based their assessment of the spacecraft's readiness for the approach to Venus on the "excellent" performance of the main engine during its Feb. 17 test.

After the engine burn, the team needed to make only a minor trajectory correction. That operation, involving the spacecraft's four thrusters, took place successfully on Feb. 24 and lasted 14 seconds.

Controllers have begun practicing all of the procedures needed for the Venus Orbit Insertion maneuver through a series of intensive ground simulations.

Venus Express has now traveled more than 250 million kilometers (160 million miles) - more than half of its way to Venus via its spiraling trajectory. The spacecraft has just crossed the path of the planet and will move inside the orbit of Venus to anticipate the celestial motion of the planet and catch up with it on April 11.

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