NASA to Send Two New Probes to Venus in the 2030s
NASA has scheduled two new probes to Venus. The DAVINCI mission will descend into the planet's atmosphere to image its surface, while VERITAS will map the surface using radar.
NASA is set to launch two new probes to Venus in the early 2030s, marking the first missions to the planet in decades.
The DAVINCI probe (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) is scheduled for launch in December 2030, one year ahead of its previous timeline. It will deploy a parachute-assisted descent probe through Venus's atmosphere. The mission aims to gather atmospheric data and capture the first direct images of the planet's surface since 1982.
A second probe, VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio science, Topography, And Spectroscopy), will follow with a planned launch in November 2032. VERITAS will map Venus's surface by radar from orbit. This data will help scientists better understand the planet's geology and its evolutionary history.
The European Space Agency is also developing its own orbiter, Envision, for a Venus launch in 2032. Additionally, Rocket Lab plans to launch a privately funded probe to the planet's clouds as early as next year to search for signs of organic material. These upcoming missions aim to answer long-standing questions about Venus's atmosphere and surface.