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First signal from Europe's mission to Venus

9 November 2005, 18:00 PM
INTERNATIONAL
By Afp, Moscow
The first space mission in over 10 years to Earth's closest neighbour Venus emitted its first signal after a successful launch from the Russian cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

The baby cried. Venus Express has begun its operational mission," said Jean-Pierre Cau, an official from EADS Astrium, the company that built the spacecraft's propulsion system, after receiving the signal.

Venus Express separated successfully from the Soyuz Fregat carrier rocket more than 90 minutes after its 0333 GMT launch at the start of a 163-day journey to Venus.

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