The Venus express probe being readied for launch in Kazakhstan (epa)
31 October 2005 -- The Russian Space Agency announced today that Venus Express, the European Space Agency's first mission to explore Earth's closes neighbor, will be launched on 9 November 9 from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
Venus Express was originally set to be launched on 26 October by a Russian rocket, but it was postponed after pre-launch tests revealed problems with the rocket.
The European space probe carries a set of instruments to study the atmosphere of Venus and scientists hope the mission will help provide clues about the features and the evolution of the planet.
The European Space Agency says it has invested 220 million euros ($265 million) in the mission.
(AFP/AP)