# Venera Mission Summaries, 1967 - 1984

Courtesy of NASA's National Space Science Data Center

## Table of Contents

Venera 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

## Venera 4

Launch Date: 1967-06-12
On-orbit dry mass: 1106.00 kg

### Description

Venera 4 was launched from a Tyazheliy Sputnik (67-058B) towards the planet Venus with the announced mission of direct atmospheric studies. On October 18, 1967, the spacecraft entered the Venusian atmosphere and released two thermometers, a barameter, a radio altimeter, and atmospheric density gauge, 11 gas analyzers, and two radio transmitters operating in the DM waveband. The main bus, which had carried the capsule to Venus, included a magnetometer, cosmic ray detectors, hydrogen and oxygen indicators, and charged particle traps. Signals were returned by the spacecraft, which braked and then deployed a parachute system after entering the Venusian atmosphere, until it reached an altitude of 24.96 kilometers.

## Venera 5

Launch Date: 1969-01-05
On-orbit dry mass: 1130.00 kg

### Description

Venera 5 was launched from a Tyazheliy Sputnik (69-001C) towards Venus to obtain atmospheric data. The spacecraft was very similar to Venera 4, although it was of a stronger design. When the atmosphere of Venus was approached, a capsule weighing 405 kg and containing scientific instruments was jettisoned from the main spacecraft. During satellite descent towards the surface of Venus, a parachute opened to slow the rate of descent. For 53 minutes on May 16, 1969, while the capsule was suspended from the parachute, data from the Venusian atmosphere were returned. The spacecraft also carried a medallion bearing the coat of arms of the U.S.S.R. and a bas-relief of V.I. Lenin to the night side of Venus.

## Venera 6

Launch Date: 1969-01-10
On-orbit dry mass: 1130.00 kg

### Description

Venera 6 was launched from a Tyazheliy Sputnik (69-002C) towards Venus to obtain atmospheric data. The spacecraft was very similar to Venera 4, although it was of a stronger design. When the atmosphere of Venus was approached, a capsule weighing 405 kg was jettisoned from the main spacecraft. This capsule contained scientific instruments. During descent towards the surface of Venus, a parachute opened to slow the rate of descent. For 51 minutes on May 17, 1969, while the capsule was suspended from the parachute, data from the Venusian atmosphere were returned. The spacecraft also carried a medallion bearing the coat of arms of the U.S.S.R. and a bas-relief of V.I. Lenin to the night side of Venus.

## Venera 7

Launch Date: 1970-08-17
On-orbit dry mass: 1180.00 kg

### Description

Venera 7 was launched from a Tyazheliy Sputnik towards Venus to study the Venusian atmosphere and other phenomena of the planet. Venera 7 entered the atmosphere of Venus on December 15, 1970, and a landing capsule was jettisoned. After aerodynamic braking, a parachute system was deployed. The capsule antenna was extended, and signals were returned for 35 minutes. Another 23 minutes of very weak signals were received after the spacecraft landed on Venus. The capsule was the first man-made object to return data after landing on another planet.

## Venera 9 Descent Craft

Launch Date: 1975-06-08

### Description

On October 20, 1975, this spacecraft was separated from the Orbiter, and landing was made with the sun near zenith at 0513 UT on October 22. A system of circulating fluid was used to distribute the heat load. This system, plus precooling prior to entry, permitted operation of the spacecraft for 53 min after landing. During descent, heat dissipation and deceleration were accomplished sequentially by protective hemispheric shells, three parachutes, a disk-shaped drag brake, and a compressible, metal, doughnut-shaped, landing cushion. The landing was about 2,200 kilometers from the Venera 10 landing site. Preliminary results indicated: (A) clouds 30-40 kilometers thick with bases at 30-35 kilometers altitude, (B) atmospheric constituents including HCl, HF, Br, and I, (C) surface pressure about 90 (earth) atmospheres, (D) surface temperature 485 deg C, (E) light levels comparable to those at earth midlatitudes on a cloudy summer day, and (F) successful TV photography showing shadows, no apparent dust in the air, and a variety of 30-40 cm rocks which were not eroded.

## Venera 10 Descent Craft

Launch Date: 1975-06-14

### Description

On October 23, 1975, this spacecraft was separated from the Orbiter, and landing was made with the sun near zenith, at 0517 UT, on October 25, 1975. A system of circulating fluid was used to distribute the heat load. This system, plus precooling prior to entry, permitted operation of the spacecraft for 65 minutes after landing. During descent, heat dissipation and deceleration were accomplished sequentially by protective hemispheric shells, three parachutes, a disk-shaped drag brake, and a compressible, metal, doughnut-shaped, landing cushion. The landing was about 2,200 kilometers from Venera 9. Preliminary results provided: (A) profile of altitude (kilometers)/pressure (Earth atmospheres)/temperature (degrees Celcius) of 42/3.3/158, 15/37/363, and 0/92/465, (B) successful TV photography showing large pancake rocks with lava or other weathered rocks in between, and (C) surface wind speed of 3.5 m/s.

## Venera 11 Descent Craft

Launch Date: 1978-09-09

### Description

The Venera 11 descent craft carried instruments designed to study the detailed chemical composition of the atmosphere, the nature of the clouds, and the thermal balance of the atmosphere. Separating from its flight platform on December 25, 1978, it made a soft landing on the surface after a descent time of approximately 1 hour. During this time, it employed aerodynamic braking followed by parachute braking and ending with atmospheric braking. The touchdown speed was 7-8 m/s. Information was transmitted to the flight platform for retransmittal to Earth. It is unknown whether the Lander Probe carried an imaging system.

## Venera 12 Descent Craft

Launch Date: 1978-09-14

### Description

The Venera 12 descent craft carried instruments designed to study the detailed chemical composition of the atmosphere, the nature of the clouds, and the thermal balance of the atmosphere. Separating from its flight platform on December 21, 1978, it made a soft landing on the surface after a descent time of approximately 1 hour. During this time, it employed aerodynamic braking followed by parachute braking and ending with atmospheric braking. The touchdown speed was 7-8 m/s. Information was transmitted to the flight platform for retransmittal to earth. It is unknown whether the Lander Probe carried an imaging system.

## Venera 13 Descent Craft

Launch Date: 1981-10-30

### Description

Venera 13 landed at 7° 30 minutes South by 303°, just east of the eastern extension of an elevated region known as Phoebe Regio. It survived for 2 h 7 min in an environment with a temperature of 457°C and a pressure of 89 earth atmospheres. Venera 13 carried instruments to take chemical and isotopic measurements, monitor the spectrum of scattered sunlight, and record electric discharges during its descent phase through the Venusian atmosphere. The spacecraft utilized a camera system, an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and a seismometer to conduct investigations on the surface.

## Venera 14 Descent Craft

Launch Date: 1981-11-04

### Description

Venera 14 landed at 13° 15 minutes S by 310°, about 950 kilometers southwest of Venera 13. Surface temperature was 465°C and pressure was 94 Earth atmospheres. Venera 14 carried instruments to take chemical and isotopic measurements, monitored the spectrum of scattered sunlight, and recorded electric discharges during its descent phase through the Venusian atmosphere. The spacecraft utilized a camera system, an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and a seismometer to conduct investigations on the surface.

## Venera 15

Launch Date: 1983-06-02

### Description

This spacecraft, identical to Venera 16, mapped the Venusian surface. For a complete description of the mission, click here.

## Venera 16

Launch Date: 1983-06-07

### Description

This spacecraft, identical to Venera 15, mapped the Venusian surface. For a complete description of the mission, click here.

Space History

##### Calvin J. Hamilton