Venera-D: New Russian Attempt to Land on the Surface of Venus
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Venus Exploration Targets Workshop (2014) 6031.pdf VENERA-D: NEW RUSSIAN ATTEMPT TO LAND ON THE SURFACE OF VENUS. M. V. Gerasimov, L. V. Zasova, N. I. Ignatiev, and the Venera-D team, Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Profsoyuznaya, 84/32, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation, [email protected]. Venus became a target for exploration early with Investigation of thermal structure of the atmos- the start of space flight technologies because of its phere, winds, thermal tides and solar locked struc- proximity to the Earth and high scientific interest to tures; the unknown world. More than half century of investi- Investigation of clouds: structure, composition, gation gave the basic information about the atmos- microphysics, chemistry; phere and surface of Venus, its interaction with the Chemical analysis of the surface material, study of Solar wind. Being about the same size, density, and the elemental composition of surface rocks, includ- composed of similar material, Venusians atmosphere is ing radiogenic isotopes; drastically different from that of the Earth, and internal Study of the interaction between surface and at- processes looks to work different. Atmospheric and mosphere, search for volcanic and seismic activity; internal driving mechanisms on Venus are still out of search for lightnings; understanding. We need to get new information which Study of the dynamics and nature of superrotation, can help us to build credible models of Venus’s at- radiative balance and nature of the enormous mosphere and interior. During the preparation of new greenhouse effect; missions it is important to define the list of targets to Investigation of the upper atmosphere, ionosphere, be measured, which have high scientific priority and electrical activity, magnetosphere, escape rate. are feasible on the level of technology and mission The main Lander will track the atmosphere pa- costs.Exploration of Venus was among the most success- rameters (meteorological, chemical, clouds, TV, net ful episodes of the Soviet space research program. It flux, electrical activity, etc.) during the descent and is started with the launch of Venera-1 spacecraft on Feb- expected to work more than two hours on the surface ruary 12, 1961 aiming just to reach the planet and de- after landing (TV, composition of rocks, meteorology, liver a bannerette. Great challenge of the program was seismology, electrical activity). The Lander would be the development of landing capsules which could pro- equipped by devices for atmosphere and surface sam- vide direct measurements of chemical and physical pling. The list of proposed instruments on the Lander parameters of the atmosphere down to the surface as can provide the following measurements: well as measurement of composition of surface rocks. TV- imaging (landing, stereo, panoramic, high In a series of 10 successful landings a Lander was resolution up to 0.1 mm); worked out which provided atmospheric measurements Active Gamma and Neutron Spectrometry; during the descent, soft landing on the surface of Ve- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; nus, work on the surface within about an hour, sam- Mossbauer spectrometry; pling of surface rocks, taking photos at the landing Multi channel tunable diode laser spectrometry; place. Developed methods of analyses are a valid heri- Nephelometry; tage for use in the future missions. Electrical activity sounding; Venera-D is the new mission to Venus which will Temperature, pressure, and wind velocity; be included into Russian Federal Space Program 2016- Radiometry; 2025. The architecture of the mission includes an Or- Radio-science; biter and a Lander as base mission elements. Subsatel- Seismometry. lite and Long living (24 hours) station on the surface The Long living station is under consideration. It is are also considered as possible mission elements. proposed to use endothermic phase transition effect Scientific goals of the Venera-D mission are de- with good heat insulation to provide appropriate tem- fined as the following: perature inside the Lander up to 24 hours. A limited Investigation of the structure and chemical compo- number of low consuming instruments can be selected sition of the atmosphere, including abundances and for the payload. elements isotopic ratios of permanent and noble gases; .