New Space Missions Will Determine Whether Venus Was Previously Livable

The planet Venus has become something of a forgotten world, despite the fact that it is nearer to us compared to Mars and, in some respects, more similar to Earth than the red planet.

In terms of dimension and density, Venus is nearly the same as the Earth. The fact that it is closer to the Sun is undoubtedly true, yet this does not entirely explain its poisonous atmosphere and dreadful landscape.

DAVINCI+ and VERITAS

Venus is slated to be visited by two Nasa-led missions, DAVINCI+ and VERITAS, by the end of the 2020s. The missions will go to the planet close to us and breach throughout its tumultuous atmosphere.

Scientists may be able to determine if Venus formerly had a similar appearance to Earth based on the information, data, and photos collected by the missions. When it launches in 2020, the DAVINCI+ mission will be packed with unique cameras that will allow it to see through the dense atmosphere, as well as extra technologies to assess the chemical composition of that atmosphere.

DAVINCI+’s mission is not expected to last long, as experts estimate about 12 to 18 minutes of steady contact, but much will be accomplished by charting the planet from overhead and studying the chemistry of Venus’s atmosphere, according to the mission’s leaders. DAVINCI+, which is scheduled to launch in 2029, will travel across space for half a year before landing at our neighboring planet.

By the time DAVINCI+ arrives, the spacecraft VERITAS should already be in orbit around Venus, on its own mission. It was planned for the DAVINCI mission to have extra capacity, which means that after the information from Venus has been collected, the spacecraft will be able to continue operating in orbit, perhaps leading to new discoveries.

Both initiatives have been in the works for many years and will, amongst many other things, determine whether Venus was previously livable or uninhabitable.