Hatsune Miku’s voyage through space has come to an end after 15 long years. The Japanese space probe Akatsuki has officially ceased operations, as reported by Automaton. The probe was launched on May 21, 2010, and was decorated with 13,000 Hatsune Miku drawings and messages from fans.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) sent the probe to Venus to study the planet’s atmospheric conditions and search for signs of volcanism. Previously, the probe captured stunning images of Venus, showcasing its unique atmosphere. Unfortunately, JAXA lost contact with the probe in April 2024, leading to the termination of its operations last Thursday.

The Akatsuki project was notable for being the only dedicated Venus study probe actively operational over the last decade. The team announced the shutdown via a post on X (formerly Twitter): “We have concluded operations of the Venus probe Akatsuki. Since last year we have been attempting to restore communications, but determined that recovery would be difficult, and so we have drawn this chapter to a close. We sincerely thank everyone who has supported Akatsuki over the 15 years since its launch.”

While Venus currently has no robotic companions, there are plans for future missions by NASA and the European Space Agency aimed at exploring this enigmatic planet.