|
Venus |
Launch |
Arrival |
Type |
Name |
Details |
|
1610 |
|
|
Earth based |
Galileo Galilee |
Galileo studies phases of Venus. |
|
1761 |
|
|
Earth based |
Mikhail Lomonosov |
Deduced Venus has an atmosphere. |
|
1778 |
|
|
Earth based |
Johann Schroler |
Mapped Venus observed the ashen lights. |
|
1932 |
|
|
Earth based |
Walter S. Adams et al. |
Adams and Theodore Dunham at Mount Wilson Observatory identify carbon dioxide in Venus’ spectrum. |
|
1965 |
|
|
Earth based |
Naval Research Washington DC |
Estimate temperature to be 600F, previously thought to be 125F. |
|
1961 |
12 February |
19 May 1961 |
Flyby |
Venera 1 |
First Venus probe. Contact lost but flew 60,000 miles from Venus. |
|
1962 |
27 August |
14 December |
Flyby |
Mariner 2 |
No magnetic field or radiation belt detects high temperatures on surface. First successful interplanetary probe. |
|
1973 |
3 November |
5 February 1974 |
Flyby |
Mariner 10 |
First dual planet mission, uses Venus as a slingshot to Mercury. |
|
1983 |
7 June |
16 October |
Flyby |
Venera 16 |
Enroute to Halley’s comet |
|
1997 |
15 October |
April 1998 |
Flyby |
Cassini |
Saturn Orbiter and flyby |
|
1967 |
14 June |
19 October |
Orbiter |
Mariner 5 |
photographed dark side and examined atmosphere, found very high concentrations of carbon dioxide and pressures at ground level of 100 bars. |
|
1978 |
20 May |
4 December |
Orbiter |
Pioneer 11/Pioneer Venus 1 |
First reliable Map of Venus’ Surface |
|
1978 |
8 August |
4 December |
Orbiter/ Landers |
Pioneer 12/Pioneer Venus 2 |
Day probe landed and transmitted for 67 minutes |
|
1983 |
2 June |
10 October |
Orbiter |
Venera 15 |
Polar Orbital Radar Mapping |
|
1983 |
7 June |
16 October |
Orbiter |
Venera 16 |
Polar Orbital Radar Mapping |
|
1989 |
5 May |
10 August 1990 |
Orbiter |
Magellan |
side scanning radar system mapped most of Venus' surface. Found 150 mile wide crater Margaret Mead and Caldera Saajawea. |
|
1961 |
4 February |
|
Attempted Lander |
Sputnik 7 |
|
|
1967 |
12 June |
18 October |
Soft Lander |
Venera 4 |
First probe to transmit data during descent through atmosphere. Parachuted to a soft landing however temperature and pressure destroyed it before it made contact with the surface. |
|
1970 |
17 August |
15 December |
Lander |
Venera 7 |
First landing that survived to surface, reported pressures of 90 atmospheres and a surface temperature of 750 k. |
|
1972 |
26 March |
22 July |
Lander |
Venera 8 |
Transmitted for 50 minutes from surface |
|
1975 |
8 June |
21 October |
Lander |
Venera 9 |
Soil sample analysed find angular rock fragments showing some form of tectonic process must overcome erosion first photographs from surface of another planet. |
|
1978 |
Pioneer 2 8 August |
4 December |
Lander |
Pioneer Venus1 and 2 |
Pioneer 1 orbits Venus pioneer 2 drops probes to surface, probes confirm high temperature and detect winds of almost 200 miles per hour on the surface. |
|
1978 |
9 September |
25 December |
Lander |
Venera 11 |
Transmitted for 95 minutes from surface |
|
1978 |
14 September |
22 December |
Lander |
Venera 12 |
Transmitted for 60 minutes from surface |
|
1981 |
30 October |
1 March 1982 |
Lander |
Venera 13 |
Transmitted from surface for 60 minutes. Completed soil analysis |
|
1981 |
4 November |
5 March 1982 |
Lander |
Venera 14 |
Transmitted from surface for 60 minutes. Completed soil analysis |
|
1984 |
15 December |
|
Soft Lander |
Vega 1 |
Venus Lander and Balloon, mission includes Comet Halley flyby |
|
1984 |
21 December |
|
Soft lander |
Vega 2 |
|
|
1999 |
|
|
Lander |
Rover |
Rover was initially planned to launch in 1998 and arrive in
1999. |