What is Mission To Venus

Mission to Venus (MTV) plans to investigate Venus

Once at Venus, the spacecraft would complete specific scientific objectives such as to: Understand the history of volatiles and liquid water on Venus and history of habitability;

Understand historic geological activity and if Venus is active today; Understand coupling between surface and the atmosphere.

Next

Venus

The Venusian environment poses many issues.

Venus is, in many ways, Earth’s twin. Its similar in size, mass, and distance from the sun but the surface conditions on Venus are vastly different to the life supporting conditions found on Earth.

Next

Mission plan

Launch set for 2036

Since the Magellan mission in 1994, there have been advances in technology that could give clearer maps of the surface, more conclusive analysis of the atmospheric and geologic makeup and facilitate longer-lived trips into the atmosphere itself.

Next

Key Technical Issues

Key challenges and issues faced

Environment

Surface temperatures up to 470 ̊C and surface pressure 90 times that on Earth

Toxic Clouds

Thick toxic clouds that contain sulphuric acid between 45km and 70km

Wind Speed

Wind speeds on Venus can be extreme, up to 100m/s

Atmospheric Radiation

Venus lacks a traditional magnetosphere, which means solar radiation penetrates largely unimpeded into the upper and middle atmosphere

Lightning

There is a consensus that lightning occurs on Venus, which means that lightning may strike any in-atmosphere probes during their several-month lifespans.

Volcanic Ash

It is important to ensure that any flying probe sent to Venus can withstand flight through a volcanic ash cloud as investigating tectonic and volcanic activity