(Oct 07, 2004): To celebrate the hardware completion of the next orbiter to Venus, the European team of scientists hope toasting to a toasty planet will broaden astrobiology's view of our neighbor. Because on the surface, Venus is hot enough to melt lead.

THE MISSION:
Venus Express will be ESA's first mission to Earth's nearest planetary neighbour, Venus. The mission was born after ESA asked for proposals, in March 2001, suggesting how to reuse the design of the Mars Express spacecraft.

ESA Homepage of Venus Express

To mark completion of the assembly of the Venus Express spacecraft, Alenia Spazio is holding a Venus Express Day on 4 October in Turin, Italy, in cooperation with Astrium SAS and the European Space Agency.

Venus Express is the first European mission to this, the second planet in the Solar System. Often referred to as 'Earth's twin', Venus holds many mysteries that intrigue scientists.
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Venus Express at Astrobiology Magazine