Venus is often described as Earth’s “evil twin.” With surface temperatures soaring near 470°C and atmospheric pressure equivalent to being 900 meters underwater, it presents unparalleled technological hurdles for space exploration. Despite this, the history of Venus missions remains one of the most successful and intriguing chapters of interplanetary research.
Early Triumphs: Mariner and Venera
The race to Venus began in the 1960s. NASA’s Mariner 2 became the first spacecraft to successfully fly by another planet in 1962, confirming that Venus is an extremely hot world lacking a protective magnetic field.
The Soviet Union achieved its greatest planetary triumphs with the Venera program. Despite numerous initial failures, Venera 7 managed the first successful soft landing on another planet in 1970. Although the probe survived for only 23 minutes under the crushing heat, it provided the first direct data from the surface. In 1975, Venera 9 transmitted the first black-and-white images of the Venusian landscape – a monumental feat of engineering given the corrosive and high-pressure environment.
The Era of Mapping: Magellan
In the 1990s, NASA’s Magellan mission fundamentally altered our understanding of Venus. Since the dense cloud cover renders optical cameras useless, Magellan employed synthetic aperture radar to map 98% of the surface. The mission revealed a world dominated by volcanism, vast lava plains, and complex tectonic ridges, raising the question of whether Venus remains geologically active today.
Modern Missions: Venus Express and Akatsuki
In the 21st century, research shifted toward the complex dynamics of the atmosphere. The ESA’s Venus Express (2006–2014) studied the runaway greenhouse effect and found evidence suggesting recent or ongoing volcanic activity. Japan’s Akatsuki probe has been orbiting the planet since 2015, providing continuous data on the super-rotation of the Venusian atmosphere and its violent wind patterns.
| Mission | Agency | Timeline | Key Focus |
| Venera 7 | USSR | 1970 | First soft landing |
| Magellan | NASA | 1989–1994 | Global radar mapping |
| Venus Express | ESA | 2005–2014 | Atmospheric analysis |
| DAVINCI | NASA | Planned 2029 | Chemical composition |
The Future of Venus Exploration
After a long hiatus, a renaissance of Venus exploration is on the horizon. With DAVINCI and VERITAS, NASA plans two complementary missions to analyze the chemical makeup of the atmosphere and the planet’s topography in unprecedented resolution. The ESA will follow with EnVision, designed to decipher the interaction between the planet’s interior and its atmosphere.
Understanding Venus is critical for learning why two nearly identical planets evolved so differently. It offers vital insights into climate change, the limits of habitability, and the characteristics of Earth-sized exoplanets across the galaxy.