The Japanese space exploration agency JAXA has lost contact with its Akatsuki space probe, which was launched in 2010 and has been in Venus’ orbit since 2015.

“Akatsuki” is the Japanese word for dawn or daybreak.

Akatsuki went silent in April, JAXA said in a news release Wednesday.

JAXA said it is trying to restore communication with the probe, but noted that Akatsuki “has already exceeded its four-and-a-half-year design lifespan since launch and is now in the later stages of operation.”

Following its initial launch in 2010, Akatsuki failed to enter Venus’ orbit before orbiting the sun for five years. The space probe tried again and succeeded in 2015, according to NASA. By doing so, Akatsuki became Japan’s first mission to explore another planet.

Akatsuki is the only active Earth spacecraft orbiting Venus, according to Space.com.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.