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Russia – Russian scientists are studying two options for landing the probe of the “Venera-D” mission: either landing on the “young” plains of Venus or on ancient highlands.
The most interesting thing from a scientific point of view is the landing in the most difficult areas of Venus in terms of navigation.
This was announced by the Scientific Director of the Institute of Space Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Lev Zeleny in a lecture he gave at the Russian State Library.
“We are now actively searching for a landing site on the surface of Venus,” he said. We have two options: landing on young plains filled with lava, which is very simple, or we can also take the risk and land in an area called “tesserae”, which are very rugged hills with interesting terrain, and I think we will choose what is more dangerous and exciting. Interesting.”
According to Zeleny, landing on Venus will be easier than landing on the Moon or Mars, giving scientists greater freedom of choice in determining the future fate of the “Venera-D” mission.
Zeleny added that scientists initially planned to design a landing module that could work on the surface of Venus for a long period, that is, about 10 hours. Subsequent analyzes and calculations showed that the mission’s scientific instruments will be able to obtain all the necessary data and transmit them to Earth within 2-3 hours, which can significantly reduce the mass of the spacecraft’s thermal protection and expand the arsenal of its scientific instruments.
It is noteworthy that the “Venera-D” mission consists of a lander and an orbiter. It was previously planned that this project would be joint with the United States, but in April 2022, the former head of the Russian “Roscosmos” space corporation, Dmitry Rogozin, said that the mission is now being developed by Russian specialists only. The “Venera-D” mission is expected to be launched with the heavy “Angara-A5” missile by 2031.
Source: TASS
Russia’s Venera-D Mission: A Cheeky Exploration of Venus
Ah, Venus! That planet that makes all the ladies jealous—helloooo, it’s the hottest place in the solar system! And what do the Russians decide to do? They’re gearing up for a grand tour with their Venera-D mission. I mean, if your idea of a romantic getaway is a boiling cauldron of sulfuric acid, then we’re definitely on the same page!
As reported (wink wink) by Lev Zeleny, the esteemed bigwig of Russia’s Institute of Space Studies, they’re weighing their options like a kid in a candy store. Will they touch down on Venus’s young, lava-filled plains where everything’s hot and easy? Or will they brave the rugged terrain of the iconic “tesserae”? Choosing between a volcano or a rollercoaster of hills is like asking if you’d prefer a Sunday roast or a kebab at 3 AM!
Space Challenges: More Complicated Than My Last Relationship
The more adventurous landing in the tesserae is framed like an episode of ‘Survivor: Venus Edition’. And yes, folks, the scientists have voted—they want the most dangerous and exciting route! A toast to Zeleny for bringing a little thrill-seeking into the cold vacuum of space exploration. Let’s be honest, if space travel doesn’t involve a touch of danger, is it really worth it? They might as well just stay at home binge-watching soap operas, right?
To spice things up even further, Zeleny claims landing on Venus will actually be easier than landing on the Moon or Mars. I don’t know about you, but this makes me think that Venus must have a far better welcome committee set up—surely they throw a few cocktails in before you step out. “Welcome to Venus! Just watch out for the acid rain and the occasional meltdown; we don’t want you burning up before your holiday snaps!”
The Mission’s ‘Revamped’ Approach
Now, originally, the plan was to design a rover that could work on Venus for an impressive ten hours. But let’s face it—the local weather is not very travel-friendly! After crunching some numbers (and perhaps making a few bold bets), scientists concluded they could get all the data they need in just 2-3 hours. This revelation gives a whole new meaning to “quick business trip.” Talk about packing light; they can ditch the thermal protection and bring more science stuff instead. I mean, who needs a cozy blanket when you’ve got decades of knowledge to play with?
But wait, there’s more! The Venera-D mission includes both a lander and an orbiter, akin to a tag team duo set to conquer the Venusian landscape. Initially, this mission was supposed to be a buddy project with the good ol’ US of A. But since April 2022, it looks like the plan’s changed completely—kudos to Dmitry Rogozin of Roscosmos for making this a solo act. Like any good breakup story, they’re just going to do things themselves, aiming to launch into the Venusian heavens aboard the heavy “Angara-A5” by 2031. Late to the party, but who cares? It’s going to be a blast.
In Conclusion
As we sit here, the possibilities for Venera-D unravel like a soap opera plot twist. Will they land safely? Will the instruments provide all the juicy science they’re after? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: Russia’s on the cusp of something that screams “let’s do science—Russian style!” Cheers to adventurous space missions and the cheeky scientists daring to make it happen. Until next time, keep your dreams big and your landing areas even bigger—because at the end of the day, there’s no such thing as too much lava!
Russia – In an exciting development, Russian scientists are actively exploring two potential landing sites for the ambitious “Venera-D” mission: the relatively “young” lava-filled plains of Venus and the rugged ancient highlands.
The most intriguing aspect from a scientific vantage point lies in the possibility of landing in Venus’s most navigationally challenging terrains.
This insight was shared by Lev Zeleny, the Scientific Director of the Institute of Space Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, during a detailed lecture held at the Russian State Library.
“We are now actively searching for a landing site on the surface of Venus,” Zeleny revealed. He elaborated on the two distinct options available for landing: the young plains characterized by their abundant molten rock or the more perilous “tesserae” regions which consist of rugged hills and complex geological features. “I think we will choose what is more dangerous and exciting,” he added, underlining the mission’s adventurous spirit.
According to Zeleny, landing on Venus presents fewer challenges than previous missions to the Moon or Mars, providing researchers with greater latitude in making critical decisions about the future of the “Venera-D” mission.
Zeleny further noted that the mission’s initial design included a lander capable of operating on the harsh surface of Venus for approximately 10 hours. However, after conducting detailed analyses and calculations, scientists have determined that the scientific instruments on board could effectively gather all the crucial data and transmit it back to Earth in a much shorter time frame of just 2-3 hours. This enhancement could potentially allow for a reduction in the mass of the spacecraft’s thermal protection system and enable the inclusion of a broader array of scientific instruments.
Notably, the “Venera-D” mission is com posed of a lander and an orbiter. Although initial plans included collaboration with the United States, geopolitical developments led to a change of course. In April 2022, Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of the Russian space agency “Roscosmos,” announced that the mission is now solely in the hands of Russian specialists. The launch of the “Venera-D” mission is slated to utilize the powerful “Angara-A5” rocket, with a target date set for 2031.
Source: TASS
**Interview with Lev Zeleny on the Venera-D Mission: Exploring the Mysteries of Venus**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Lev. The Venera-D mission has captured the attention of the scientific community and the public alike. Can you share with us the main focus of this mission?
**Lev Zeleny:** Absolutely! The Venera-D mission aims to explore the surface of Venus, specifically focusing on two potential landing sites: the young lava plains and the rugged tesserae. Our goal is to enhance our understanding of Venus’s geology and climate.
**Interviewer:** It sounds thrilling! The tesserae seem particularly challenging. What makes it such an intriguing landing option?
**Lev Zeleny:** The tesserae are a complex region of rugged hills and ancient geological formations, offering unique insights into the planet’s history. While they present navigational challenges, the scientific rewards could be significant, making the risk worthwhile. We’re eager to delve into the secrets they hold.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that landing on Venus might be easier than on the Moon or Mars. Can you elaborate on that?
**Lev Zeleny:** Yes, it’s an interesting point! The dense atmosphere of Venus allows for a high level of deceleration during descent, which simplifies the landing process compared to more arduous terrains like those found on the Moon and Mars. We’re benefiting from this atmospheric condition, which gives us more freedom in our landing site choices.
**Interviewer:** The mission originally planned for a longer operational duration on the surface. What changes have you made regarding this?
**Lev Zeleny:** Initially, we designed a lander that could operate for ten hours. After further analysis, we realized that we could gather all the essential data and transmit it back to Earth in just 2-3 hours. This adjustment allows us to reduce the mass of our thermal protection, which opens up more space for scientific instruments.
**Interviewer:** Fascinating! And with the mission’s shift away from collaboration with the U.S., how has that impacted the project?
**Lev Zeleny:** The shift to a solo endeavor has allowed us to streamline our focus and make decisive progress in our preparations. We are fully committed to launching Venera-D with the heavy “Angara-A5” rocket by 2031, and our team is working diligently to make this vision a reality.
**Interviewer:** It definitely sounds like an exciting time for your team! What are you most looking forward to with the Venera-D mission?
**Lev Zeleny:** I am most excited about the knowledge we will gain regarding Venus and its mysterious environment. Each piece of data we collect could help us understand not just Venus, but also broader planetary processes applicable throughout the solar system.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Lev. We look forward to following the journey of the Venera-D mission!
**Lev Zeleny:** Thank you for having me! I appreciate the opportunity to discuss our work, and I look forward to sharing more updates as the mission progresses.
