Venera-D
Encyclopedia
The Venera-D probe is a proposed Russia
n space probe to Venus
, to be launched around 2016. Venera-D's prime purpose is to make remote-sensing observations around the planet Venus
in a manner similar to that of the U.S. Magellan
spacecraft in the 1990s, but with the use of more powerful radar. Venera-D is also intended to map future landing sites. A lander, based on the Venera
design, is also planned, capable of surviving for a long duration on the planet's surface.
Venera-D will be the first Venus probe launched by the Russian Federation (the earlier Venera probes were launched by the former Soviet Union
). Venera-D will serve as the flagship for a new generation of Russian-built Venus probes, culminating with a lander capable of withstanding the harsh Venusian environment for more than the 1½ hours logged by the Soviet-era probes. In order to keep research and development
costs down, the new Venera-D probe will most likely resemble the Soviet-era probes, but will rely on new technologies developed by Russia since its last Venus missions (Vega 1
and Vega 2
in 1985). Venera-D will most likely be launched on the Proton booster, but may be designed to be launched on the more powerful Angara rocket
instead.
Venera-D will follow the Fobos-Grunt mission, the first Russian Mars
mission since the 1990s.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n space probe to Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, to be launched around 2016. Venera-D's prime purpose is to make remote-sensing observations around the planet Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
in a manner similar to that of the U.S. Magellan
Magellan probe
The Magellan spacecraft, also referred to as the Venus Radar Mapper, was a 1,035-kilogram robotic space probe launched by NASA on May 4, 1989, to map the surface of Venus using Synthetic Aperture Radar and measure the planetary gravity...
spacecraft in the 1990s, but with the use of more powerful radar. Venera-D is also intended to map future landing sites. A lander, based on the Venera
Venera
The Venera series probes were developed by the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1984 to gather data from Venus, Venera being the Russian name for Venus...
design, is also planned, capable of surviving for a long duration on the planet's surface.
Venera-D will be the first Venus probe launched by the Russian Federation (the earlier Venera probes were launched by the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
). Venera-D will serve as the flagship for a new generation of Russian-built Venus probes, culminating with a lander capable of withstanding the harsh Venusian environment for more than the 1½ hours logged by the Soviet-era probes. In order to keep research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
costs down, the new Venera-D probe will most likely resemble the Soviet-era probes, but will rely on new technologies developed by Russia since its last Venus missions (Vega 1
Vega 1
Vega 1 is a Soviet space probe part of the Vega program. The spacecraft was a development of the earlier Venera craft...
and Vega 2
Vega 2
Vega 2 is a Soviet space probe part of the Vega program. The spacecraft was a development of the earlier Venera craft. They were designed by Babakin Space Center and constructed as 5VK by Lavochkin at Khimki...
in 1985). Venera-D will most likely be launched on the Proton booster, but may be designed to be launched on the more powerful Angara rocket
Angara rocket
The Angara rocket family is a family of space-launch vehicles currently under development by the Moscow-based Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center...
instead.
Venera-D will follow the Fobos-Grunt mission, the first Russian Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
mission since the 1990s.