It is discovered that the ominous title is, in some ways, an accurate description of why astronomers will be studying Venus this decade. Three new missions are being prepared for launch to the second rock from the sun by engineers and scientists from N.A.S.A and the European Space Agency. They have a great deal of curiosity about the nearby planet, which shares many similarities with Earth but yet differs dramatically from it.
The video discusses a few terrifying but fascinating features of Venus. It has a runaway greenhouse effect, to start with. The carbon dioxide-based, 24-kilometer-thick (15-mile) atmosphere is clouded with sulfuric acid. Lead-melting temperatures are produced by the planet. The Venusian surface can reach 900 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Lori Glaze, director of planetary science at N.A.S.A, who made the statement in the video (480 degrees Celsius).
“So it is a crazy place, but really interesting,” Glaze said. “And we really want to understand why Venus and Earth turned out so differently.”
Venus as seen by Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft. (Image credit: ISAS, JAXA)
Within the next ten or so years, at least three missions to Venus will take flight. Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble Gases, Chemistry and Imaging, or DAVINCI for short, is a N.A.S.A project with two main parts. First and foremost, a spacecraft that will pass by Venus will gather information about its atmosphere and surface as well as serve as a communications hub for the mission. The second is an unique descent probe that will descend through Venus’ dense atmosphere while gathering data throughout the risky environment.
Another mission, called VERITAS, will become the first N.A.S.A orbiter to visit Venus since the 1990s. VERITAS is short for Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy. The spacecraft will develop a big-picture look at Venus and its history, aiding scientists who want to know more about its volcanoes and to determine whether Venus ever had water. The Italian Space Agency (ASI), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the French Space Agency (CNES) will also contribute to VERITAS.
Then there is the EnVision mission from the European Space Agency (ESA). The N.A.S.A-supported mission targets a launch in the early 2030s. When it reaches Venus, EnVision will try to learn why Venus became Earth’s “evil twin,” as the N.A.S.A video describes it. Specifically, it will study Venus’ hostile atmosphere and its inner core to see how both planets could form in the same part of the solar system and with the same stuff, yet yield wildly different realities.
Perhaps soon, these missions will let us marvel at Earth’s closest planetary neighbor.
