Venera program

The Venera program (Russian: Вене́ра) was a series of space probes developed by the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1984 to gather information about the planet Venus. A total of eighteen probes were sent, including two related Vega probes.

Position of Venera landing sites. Red points denote sites returning images from the surface, black central dots sites of surface sample analysis. Map based on mapping from Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Magellan.

Thirteen probes successfully entered the Venusian atmosphere, including the two Venera-Halley probes. Ten of those successfully landed on the surface of the planet. Due to the extreme conditions, the probes could only survive for a short period on the surface, from 23 minutes to two hours.

The Venera program established a number of precedents in space exploration, among them being the first man-made devices to enter the atmosphere of another planet (Venera 3 on 1 March 1966), the first to make a soft landing on another planet (Venera 7 on 15 December 1970), the first to return images from another planet's surface (Venera 9 on 8 June 1975), the first to record sounds on another planet (Venera 13 on 30 October 1981), and the first to perform high-resolution radar mapping scans (Venera 15 on 2 June 1983). The intense pressures that led to the short lifespans of many of the probes was itself an important finding.

The Venera probes

Venera 1 and 2

Main articles: Venera 1 and Venera 2

The Soviet Union tried to send its first probes to fly by Venus in 1961. The first probe, called Venera 1, failed to send data after leaving Earth. A second probe, Venera 2, also failed after leaving Earth. More attempts were made in the early 1960s, but these were not announced as missions to Venus at the time.

Venera 3 to 6

Full-scale model of the Venera 1 in the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

Main articles: Venera 3, Venera 4, Venera 5, and Venera 6

The next set of probes, Venera 3 to 6, were built to study Venus's atmosphere. Venera 3 was the first human-made object to land on another planet, but it crashed and could not send data. Venera 4 was the first to measure Venus's atmosphere, showing it was mostly carbon dioxide. Later probes, Venera 5 and 6, were designed to float down through the atmosphere and send data before their batteries ran out.

Venera 7

Main article: Venera 7

Venera 7, launched in 1970, was built to survive Venus's harsh surface and make a soft landing. Though it had problems, it sent back the first direct measurements from Venus's surface, including temperature and pressure.

Model of Venera 7 lander in the Cosmos Pavilion, VDNKh

Venera 8

Main article: Venera 8

Venera 8, launched in 1972, carried more scientific tools to study the surface. It sent data for almost an hour after landing.

Venera 9 to 12

Main articles: Venera 9, Venera 10, Venera 11, and Venera 12

KTDU-425A liquid-propellant engine used on Venera spacecraft from 9 to 16

In 1975 and 1978, the Soviet Union launched Venera 9 to 12. These probes were designed to work on the surface longer and included cameras. Although there were some problems with the cameras, Venera 9 and 10 sent back the first pictures ever taken on another planet's surface.

Venera 13 and 14

Main articles: Venera 13 and Venera 14

Venera 13 and 14, launched in 1981–82, carried tools to study the ground and atmosphere, including cameras and a drill. They survived longer than planned, sending back valuable data from Venus's surface.

Artist's impression of Venera 10 lander on Venus's surface

Venera 15 and 16

Main articles: Venera 15 and Venera 16

In 1983, Venera 15 and 16 were sent to orbit Venus and map its surface using radar. They created detailed maps of the northern part of Venus.

VeGa probes

Main article: Vega program

The VeGa probes, launched in 1984, used a similar design to the Venera probes but also carried balloons to study Venus's atmosphere. The name "VeGa" comes from combining "Venera" (Venus) and "Gallei" (Halley).

Future

Venera-D

Main article: Venera-D

Venera-D is a planned trip to Venus that would include a special orbiter and a lander. The best times to launch this mission are in 2026 and 2031, but as of March 2021, it is scheduled to launch no earlier than November 2029. Venera-D might include some parts from NASA, like balloons, a small satellite for plasma measurements, or a surface station that could last 24 hours on the lander.

Scientific findings

First view of Venus's surface or any other planet other than Earth. The first clear panoramic image taken by Venera 9 lander. This image was sent back in the lander's 53-minute lifetime 22 October 1975. Although it was intended to be a 360-degree image, the second camera's lens cap did not open resulting in this 180-degree panorama.

The Venera probes helped scientists learn a lot about the planet Venus. They gave us important information about Venus's surface and atmosphere. For example, Venera 4 showed that Venus's atmosphere is mostly made of a gas called CO₂. Venera 7 measured the temperature and pressure there. Venera 9 sent back the first pictures of Venus's surface. These missions helped everyone understand more about our neighboring planet.

Types of Venera probes

*Venera program probe types*
Model	Type	First Launch	Last Launch	Missions (success/ total)	Launch Vehicle	Mass	Equipment
1VA	Impact	04 Feb 1961	12 Feb 1961	0 / 2	Molniya	643.5 kg (1,419 lb)	5 scientific instruments
2MV-1	Flyby and atmospheric probe	25 Aug 1962	01 Sep 1962	0 / 2	Molniya	1,097 kg (2,418 lb)	11 scientific instruments
2MV-2	Flyby	12 Sep 1962	12 Sep 1962	0 / 1	Molniya	890 kg (1,960 lb)	10 scientific instruments
3MV-1 and 1A		19 Feb 1964	02 Apr 1964	0 / 3	Molniya	948 kg (2,090 lb) and 800 kg (1,800 lb) (1A)	10 scientific instruments
3MV-4		12 Nov 1965	23 Nov 1965	0 / 2	Molniya-M	963 kg (2,123 lb)	11 scientific instruments
3MV-3	Atmospheric probe and lander	16 Nov 1965	16 Nov 1965	0 / 1	Molniya-M	958 kg (2,112 lb)	10 scientific instruments
1V		12 Jun 1967	17 Jun 1967	1 / 2	Molniya-M	1,106 kg (2,438 lb)	8 scientific instruments
2V		05 Jan 1969	10 Jan 1969	2 / 2	Molniya-M	1,130 kg (2,490 lb)	8 scientific instruments
3V		17 Aug 1970	31 Mar 1972	2 / 4	Molniya-M	1,180 kg (2,600 lb)	5 or 9 scientific instruments
4V-1 and 1M	Orbiter and lander	22 Oct 1975	04 Nov 1981	6 / 6	Proton-K	4,363 kg (9,619 lb) 5,033 kg (11,096 lb)	16 and 21 scientific instruments
4V-2	Orbiter	02 Jun 1983	07 Jun 1983	2 / 2	Proton-K	5,250 kg (11,570 lb) 5,300 kg (11,700 lb)	7 scientific instruments with radar

Flight data for all Venera missions

Name	Model	Mission	Launch	Arrival	Survival time min	Results	Image	Lander coordin.
Venera 1VA No. 1	1VA No. 1	Impactor	4 February 1961	—N/a	—N/a	Failed to leave earth orbit		—N/a
Venera 1	1VA No. 2	Impactor	12 February 1961	—N/a	—N/a	Communications lost en route to Venus		—N/a
Venera 2MV-1 No.1	2MV-1 No.1	Atmospheric probe	25 August 1962	—N/a	—N/a	Escape stage failed; Re-entered three days later		—N/a
Venera 2MV-1 No.2	2MV-1 No.2	Atmospheric probe	1 September 1962	—N/a	—N/a	Escape stage failed; Re-entered five days later		—N/a
Venera 2MV-2 No.1	2MV-2 No.1	Flyby	12 September 1962	—N/a	—N/a	Third stage exploded; Spacecraft destroyed		—N/a
Venera 3MV-1 No.2	3MV-1 No.2	Flyby	19 February 1964	—N/a	—N/a	Did not reach parking orbit		—N/a
Kosmos 27	3MV-1 No.3	Flyby	27 March 1964	—N/a	—N/a	Escape stage failed		—N/a
Venera 2	3MV-4 No.4	Flyby	12 November 1965	—N/a	—N/a	Communications lost just before arrival		—N/a
Venera 3	3MV-3 No.1	Atmospheric probe	16 November 1965	—N/a	—N/a	Communications lost just before atmospheric entry. This was the first manmade object to land on another planet on 1 March 1966 (crash). Probable landing region: -20° to 20° N, 60° to 80° E.		—N/a
Kosmos 96	3MV-4 No.6	Atmospheric probe	23 November 1965	—N/a	—N/a	Failed to leave Earth orbit and reentered the atmosphere. Believed by some researchers to have crashed near Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, USA on 9 December 1965, an event which became known as the "Kecksburg Incident" among UFO researchers. All Soviet spacecraft that never left Earth orbit were customarily renamed "Kosmos", regardless of the craft's intended mission. The name is also given to other Soviet/Russian spacecraft that are intended to—and do reach Earth orbit.		—N/a
Venera 4	4V-1 No.310	Atmospheric probe	12 June 1967	18 October 1967	—N/a	The first probe to enter another planet's atmosphere and return data. Although it did not transmit from the surface, this was the first interplanetary transmission of any probe. Landed somewhere near latitude 19° N, longitude 38° E.		—N/a
Kosmos 167	4V-1 No.311	Atmospheric probe	17 June 1967	—N/a	—N/a	Escape stage failed; Re-entered eight days later		—N/a
Venera 5	2V (V-69) No. 330	Atmospheric probe	5 January 1969	16 May 1969	53*	Successfully returned atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure within 26 kilometres (16 mi) of the surface. Landed at 3° S, 18° E.		—N/a
Venera 6	2V (V-69) No.331	Atmospheric probe	10 January 1969	17 May 1969	51*	Successfully returned atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure within 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) of the surface. Landed at 5° S, 23° E.		—N/a
Venera 7	4V-1 No. 630	Lander	17 August 1970	15 December 1970	23	The first successful landing of a spacecraft on another planet, and the first transmission from another planet's surface. Survived for 23 minutes before succumbing to heat and pressure.
Kosmos 359	3V (V-70)	Lander	22 August 1970	—N/a	—N/a	Escape stage failed; Ended up in an elliptical Earth orbit	—N/a	—N/a
Venera 8	4V-1 No.670	Lander	27 March 1972	22 July 1972	50	Landed within a 150-kilometre (93 mi) radius of 10.70° S, 335.25° E.
Kosmos 482	3V (V-72) no. 671	Probe	31 March 1972	—N/a	—N/a	Escape stage exploded during Trans-Venus injection; Some pieces re-entered and others remained in Earth orbit, until May 2025 where it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere	—N/a	—N/a
Venera 9	4V-1 No. 660	Orbiter and Lander	8 June 1975	22 October 1975	53	Sent back the first (black and white) images of Venus's surface. Landed within a 150-kilometre (93 mi) radius of 31.01° N, 291.64° E.
Venera 10	4V-1 No. 661	Orbiter and Lander	14 June 1975	25 October 1975	65	Landed within a 150-kilometre (93 mi) radius of 15.42° N, 291.51° E.
Venera 11	4V-1 No. 360	Flyby and Lander	9 September 1978	25 December 1978	95	The lander arrived, but the imaging systems failed.
Venera 12	4V-1	Flyby and Lander	14 September 1978	21 December 1978	110	The lander recorded what is thought to be lightning.
Venera 13	4V-1 no.760	Flyby and Lander	30 October 1981	1 March 1982	127	Returned the first colour images of Venus's surface, and discovered leucite basalt in a soil sample using a spectrometer.
Venera 14	4V-1 No. 761	Flyby and Lander	4 November 1981	5 March 1982	57	A soil sample revealed tholeiitic basalt (similar to that found on Earth's mid-ocean ridges).
Venera 15	4V-2 No. 860	Orbiter	2 June 1983	10 October 1983	—N/a	Mapped (along with Venera 16) the northern hemisphere down to 30 degrees from North (resolution 1–2 km)		—N/a
Venera 16	4V-2	Orbiter	7 June 1983	14 October 1983	—N/a	Mapped (along with Venera 15) the northern hemisphere down to 30 degrees from North (resolution 1–2 km)		—N/a
Vega 1	5VK No. 902	Flyby and Lander	15 December 1984	11 June 1985	—N/a	Part of the Vega program. The vessel was en route to Halley's Comet. During entry into atmosphere, the surface instruments began work early, and the lander failed.
Vega 2	5VK No. 901	Flyby and Lander	21 December 1984	15 June 1985	56	Part of the Vega program. The vessel was en route to Halley's Comet.