After a November 2005 launch, the European Space Agency's scientific satellite, Venus Express, reached the planet in April of the following year and settled into its working orbit shortly after in May. Since then, the orbiter has been beaming back many kinds of data about the cloud-covered planet, enabling researchers to better understand its lifecycle and past.

Venus Express left Earth with seven instruments bent on unmasking Venus and revealing to us her secrets. All seven instruments were derived from the previous projects Mars Express and Rosette. ASPERA-4 analyses neutral and ionized plasma; MAG takes magnetic field measurements; PFS uses infrared Fourier spectroscopy to take vertical pictures of the atmosphere; SPICAV also uses spectroscopy to measure atmospheric content by using sun or starlight occultation; VeRa uses radio sounding to measure atmosphere; VIRTIS maps the atmosphere and surface of the planet via spectography; and VMC images in ultraviolet and visible light ranges.

Most recently, interesting images from the VIRTIS or Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer instrument have been published concerning the planet's surface that give some insight into the past it may have had. In fact, Venus Express has mapped the entire southern hemisphere of the planet using VIRTIS. These images and measurements show that it's very likely that Venus had a wet and wild surface in its early ages.

The most compelling evidence for the theory comes from the discovery of granite on the surface of what should be continents. Granite, as it turns out, is produced partly by geological activity known on Earth as plate tectonics. Basalt, a common volcanic rock, is mixed with water by one plate plunging beneath another while under water. The combination is then melted by the heat of the planet's core and spit back out as molten rock.

Large plateaus on Venus containing granite suggest that the planet's past was probably as epic as the Earth's with active volcanoes, vast oceans and destructive earthquakes. While the discovery of granite on the surface does suggest that the planet's past was active, there isn't much evidence of current volcanic activity. However, there are areas of darker rock on the VIRTIS maps which indicate that such activity may not have been gone long, or may simply not have been observed yet.

Venus Express's mission life has already been extended to December of this year, but if recent history is any indication, the orbiter will likely receive a new mission upon completion of the current.

Venus is a planet of mystery, having been cloaked from Earth's inquisitive gaze for most of mankind's operational life-span. Though many probes and landers have been sent to it in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the obscured surface, Venus Express is the first to return such complete and meaningful data. Future missions will unravel even more mysteries about Earth's sister planet, and perhaps, technological advancement willing, man will one day set foot on its hot plate surface.