Rocket Lab Mission to Venus
arXiv:2208.07724 · doi:10.3390/aerospace9080445
Abstract
Regular, low-cost Decadal-class science missions to planetary destinations will be enabled by high-ΔV small spacecraft, such as the high-energy Photon, and small launch vehicles, such as Electron, to support expanding opportunities for scientists and to increase the rate of science return. The Rocket Lab mission to Venus is a small direct entry probe planned for baseline launch in May 2023 with accommodation for a single ~1 kg instrument. A backup launch window is available in January 2025. The probe mission will spend about 5 min in the Venus cloud layers at 48-60 km altitude above the surface and collect in situ measurements. We have chosen a low-mass, low-cost autofluorescing nephelometer to search for organic molecules in the cloud particles and constrain the particle composition.
Based on the text of the Venus Life Finder Mission Study report (arXiv:2112.05153). Published in Aerospace as a part of the Special Issue "The Search for Signs of Life on Venus: Science Objectives and Mission Designs" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace/special_issues/Search_Life_Venus_Science_Objectives_Mission_Designs). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2112.05153
References in corpus (2)
Cited by in corpus (3)
- Deducing the Composition of Venus Cloud Particles with the Autofluorescence Nephelometer (AFN)
- Venus Life Finder Habitability Mission: Motivation, Science Objectives, and Instrumentation
- Direct In-Situ Capture, Separation and Visualization of Biological Particles with Fluid-Screen in the Context of Venus Life Finder Mission Concept Study