Space agencies are relentless in their quest to conquer new horizons . While most efforts have focused on Mars, they now want to turn their attention to Earth's so-called twin planet, Venus . One such mission is scheduled for 2030, a 15-month journey.
The proposed change of course was presented in the online edition of The Guardian. There, Dr. Noam Izenberg of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory argues that Venus should be included as an additional target on the space trajectory of the Moon and Mars. He believes it is necessary to leave the cradle and enter the outer universe once and for all.
Science sets its sights on Venus as the destination for a manned mission
The scientists made their statements at the International Astronautical Congress held in Paris last week. Their argument is that because Venus is closer to Earth than Mars, a crewed mission could yield relevant information more quickly and provide important data that can be used in the future.
Several uncrewed missions will study Venus in the next decade. But now some scientists want to send a crewed mission there as well for a flyby. Is that a good idea? https://t.co/gDUB2L7CB9
— IFLScience (@IFLScience) October 4, 2022
The differences are significant. A mission to Mars would take an average of three years, while a mission to Venus would take only one. In those months, astronomers could explore deep space and acquire new knowledge. The drawback is that they would have to send robots, since it's impossible for humans to reach those locations.
Scientists believe that a crewed mission could reveal whether microbial life exists on Venus and, at the same time, delve deeper into the reasons why the heat is so intense and scorching. The first attempt will be made by Rocket Lab next year, which will surpass SpaceX by being the first to reach another planet. We'll have to wait and see if the plans unfold as expected.
In addition, it is thought that a crewed flyby would allow scientists to assess gravity levels , which would help them find ways to shorten the distance the spacecraft will travel to Mars. These kinds of proposals don't have widespread support, although some are beginning to gain traction, such as NASA's chief economist, Alexander Macdonald.
Venus; a veritable fryer where life is impossible
Venus is much closer to the sun than Earth, so it receives twice as much heat. The temperature is so high that it can melt lead , making it impossible for humans to reach it, and the possibility of finding any bacteria is almost nil. Some studies suggest this is due to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
The average temperature is estimated to be 462 degrees Celsius , although it can vary slightly. In terms of size and mass, it is very similar to Earth, but its atmosphere is different, as it is composed of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, because most of the hydrogen has evaporated.
The weather is very consistent most of the time, including at night. It takes 243 days to rotate on its axis. However, there's an important detail regarding its tilt relative to the sun. Venus's tilt is only 3,39 degrees, compared to Earth's 23,4 degrees, resulting in a completely different rotational process.
Over the years, there have been attempts to explore Venus. In the 1960s and 1970s, NASA considered sending astronauts there, but after further research, they realized it was illogical. It would be sending people to simply die on another planet, which makes no sense. Therefore, everything we know is thanks to the exploration carried out by experts.
The Soviet Union conducted the most research. They launched a series of missions under the name Venera, none of which survived. Once they reached the surface, they were almost instantly incinerated. Communication was lost at that moment, but at least they were able to send back some images that have been preserved to this day.
The first spacecraft to send photographs back to Earth was Venera 9 ; however, the most popular was Venera 13, which was capable of capturing full-color images. In March 1982, it landed in the southern hemisphere and transmitted a wealth of data that was immediately stored at mission control. Afterward, it was destroyed by the intense heat.
For these reasons, there are serious doubts about the viability of investing large sums of money in an experiment known to be doomed. Although some believe it's likely that life forms will be found, the sulfuric acid-based composition of the clouds is catastrophic. Therefore, Dr. William Bains of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says that all the chemical reactions studied are too weak, and that even if any microbes were to exist, they wouldn't be able to survive. They have nothing to eat, nor any way to withstand the pollution and the extreme temperatures.
Despite the unfavorable conditions and the likelihood of it being another waste of money, none of the planned missions will be halted. The drive to explore the unknown is more important than solving Earth's major problems.
