This paper describes the four Pioneer Venus probe spacecraft which will explore the atmosphere of Venus in mid-December, 1978. The probes, one large and three small, will carry a complement of sixteen scientific instruments which will make measurements from entry (200 km-altitude) down to the planet surface. The surface environment, approximately 770 K temperature and 95 bar. pressure, leads to a design in which the equipment complement is housed in internally insulated, spherical pressure vessels. Entry deceleration and stabilization are provided by 45 deg. half-angle conical forebodies, heat protected by carbon phenolic ablative heat shields. For the large probe, a parachute provides additional retardation between 67 and 44 km altitude, a region of extreme scientific interest.


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    Title :

    Probing a planetary atmosphere - Pioneer Venus spacecraft description


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and American Geophysical Union, Conference on the Exploration of the Outer Planets


    Publication date :

    1975-09-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





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