At 4:33 AM (Paris time) today, November 9, the European spacecraft named Venus Express will depart from Earth en route to Venus, coinciding with the launch of the Russian Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The Venus spacecraft is set to land on Venus in April 2006 and will stay there for 2 days, equivalent to 16 months on Earth. The mission’s objective is to explore the mysteries of the climate and geology of Venus.
Researchers have discovered that the temperature on Venus is around 470 degrees Celsius, with a pressure 90 times greater than that of Earth, a very high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and thick clouds containing sulfuric acid. Despite numerous research programs on Venus, many mysteries of this planet remain unexplored. Rapid pressure changes, greenhouse effects, and volcanic activity on Venus are among the phenomena that researchers wish to understand better.
With a budget of approximately 220 million euros, the Venus Express spacecraft has made the first step toward exploring the planet considered Earth’s twin. Although the amount is significant, it is relatively modest compared to the vast budget allocated for solar system research programs. During the construction of the Venus spacecraft, the European Space Agency (ESA) adhered to the motto of former NASA administrator Daniel Goldin: “Faster, better, cheaper.” Marcello Coradini, a partner in ESA’s solar system research, noted that in 2003, ESA agreed to allocate 1 billion euros for the technology re-engineering of the Rosetta spacecraft. He added, “With Venus Express, a record has been set as the project was completed in just three and a half years.”
Although both spacecraft were built using similar technologies, Venus Express has been designed to approach the Sun more closely. Notably, the spacecraft’s solar panels were developed in a completely new manner and equipped with thermal insulation tools. It features about 7 instruments for measuring magnetic fields and estimating pressure leaks in space, 7 tools for ultraviolet observation, and, importantly, infrared detection.
