How a Soviet probe survived an hour in Venus's hellish atmosphere
In short: Venus is often called Earth's evil twin, defined by sulfuric acid rain and extreme heat. This video explores how the Soviet Union achieved the near-impossible: landing a probe on its surface to capture some of the first real images of another planet.
The Venera 9 lander successfully touched down on Venus at 5:13 UT on October 22, 1975. Despite the planet's punishing conditions, the craft operated for 53 minutes, transmitting a single image of the surface located at approximately 32 S, 291 E.
The captured photograph reveals a landscape dominated by angular and partly weathered rocks, measuring about 30 to 40 cm across. Many of these rocks are partially buried in soil, with the horizon visible in the corners of the frame. The image also shows a white object at the bottom, which is part of the lander itself.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What Did A Soviet Probe Find On Venus? First Real Images Of Venus
- Also: First Look: Venus - NASA Science
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