Venera 5

Venera 5 (Russian: Венера-5 meaning Venus 5) was a space probe in the Soviet space program Venera for the exploration of Venus.

Venera 5
Seal of Venera 5
Mission typeVenus atmospheric probe
OperatorLavochkin
COSPAR ID1969-001A
SATCAT no.3642
Mission durationTravel: 131 days
Atmosphere: 53 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft2V (V-69) No. 330
ManufacturerLavochkin
Launch mass1,130 kilograms (2,490 lb)
Dry mass410 kilograms (900 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date5 January 1969, 06:28:08 (1969-01-05UTC06:28:08Z) UTC
RocketMolniya 8K78M
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5
End of mission
Last contact16 May 1969 (1969-05-17), 06:54 UT
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHeliocentric
Perihelion altitude0.72 AU
Aphelion altitude0.98 AU
Inclination2.0°
Period286 days
Venus atmospheric probe
Atmospheric entry16 May 1969, 06:01 UT
Impact site3°S 18°E
(24–26 km altitude)
 

Venera 5 was launched towards Venus to obtain atmospheric data. The spacecraft was very similar to Venera 4 although it was of a stronger design. The launch was conducted using a Molniya-M rocket, flying from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

When the atmosphere of Venus was approached, a capsule weighing 405 kg (893 lb) and containing scientific instruments was jettisoned from the main spacecraft. During satellite descent towards the surface of Venus, a parachute opened to slow the rate of descent. For 53 minutes on 16 May 1969, while the capsule was suspended from the parachute, data from the Venusian atmosphere were returned.[1] It landed at 3°S 18°E. The spacecraft also carried a medallion bearing the State Coat of Arms of the Soviet Union and a bas-relief of Lenin to the night side of Venus.

Given the results from Venera 4, the Venera 5 and Venera 6 landers contained new chemical analysis experiments tuned to provide more precise measurements of the atmosphere's components. Knowing the atmosphere was extremely dense, the parachutes were also made smaller so the capsule would reach its full crush depth before running out of power (as Venera 4 had done).

Instruments

Spaceship
  • Instrument KS-18-3M to study the flows of cosmic particles;
  • Instrument LA-2U to determine the distribution of oxygen and hydrogen in the planet's atmosphere.

Lander
  • Pressure sensors MDDA A to measure atmospheric pressure in the range of 100 to 30,000 mm Hg. Art. (0.13-40 atm);
  • G-8 gas analyzers to determine the chemical composition of the atmosphere;
  • TTI unit to determine the density of the atmosphere at an altitude;
  • FD-69 for atmospheric lighting measurements;
  • CE-164D to determine the temperature at the height of the atmosphere.

Mission

Venera 5 was launched into an Earth parking orbit on 5 January 1969 at 06:28:08 UT and then from a Tyazheliy Sputnik (69-001C) towards Venus. After a mid-course maneuver on 14 March 1969, the probe was released from the bus on 16 May 1969 at a distance of 37,000 kilometers (23,000 mi) from Venus. The probe entered the nightside atmosphere at 06:01 UT and when the velocity slowed to 210 m/s the parachute deployed and transmissions to Earth began.[2] The probe sent read-outs every 45 seconds for 53 minutes[3] before finally succumbing to the temperature and pressure at roughly 320 °C (608 °F), 26.1 bar.

The photometer detected a light level of 250 watts per square meter and confirmed the high temperatures, pressures, and carbon dioxide composition of the atmosphere found by Venera 4.[2]

See also

References
  1. Anne Marie Helmenstine, "This Day in Science History - May 16 - Venera 5 'Landing'" Archived 21 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, About.com
  2. "Venera 5". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  3. "From the Archives (May 17, 1969): Soviet spacecraft lands on Venus". The Hindu. 17 May 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
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