Venera 6

Lore & Background

Venera 6 (Russian: Венера-6 meaning Venus 6), or 2V (V-69) No.331, was launched into an Earth parking orbit on January 10, 1969, at 05:51:52 UT and then from a Tyazheliy Sputnik (69-002C) towards Venus. After a mid-course maneuver on March 16, the Venera 6 probe was released on May 17, 1969, 25,000 kilometers (16,000 mi) from the planet. It entered the nightside atmosphere at 06:05 UT and deployed the parachute.

The capsule contained scientific instruments including pressure sensors, gas analyzers, a density device, a photometer, and a temperature sensor. The photometer failed to operate, but the atmosphere was sampled at 2 bar and 10 bar pressures. The probe sent back readouts every 45 seconds for 51 minutes and ceased operation due to temperature and pressure effects at roughly 10 to 12 kilometers altitude.

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.

Reader's Guide

Venera 6 was part of the Soviet Union's early Venus exploration program, building directly on the experience of Venera 4. Its mission was to obtain atmospheric data, and it succeeded in returning 51 minutes of readings from the Venusian atmosphere before being crushed by pressure and temperature at an altitude of roughly 10 to 12 kilometers. The spacecraft's design was strengthened compared to Venera 4, and its parachute was made smaller to ensure it reached a greater depth before power loss. The data returned included chemical composition measurements at two pressure levels, though the photometer failed. This mission, along with Venera 5, provided more precise measurements of the atmosphere's components than its predecessor, advancing understanding of Venus's extreme environment. The inclusion of a medallion and bas-relief of Lenin reflected the political context of the era. Venera 6's legacy lies in its contribution to the first detailed in-situ analysis of another planet's atmosphere, paving the way for later landers.

Did You Know?

• Venera 6 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.
• The probe sent back readouts every 45 seconds for 51 minutes on May 17, 1969.
• Its parachute was made smaller than Venera 4's because the atmosphere was known to be extremely dense.
• The photometer on board failed to operate, but the atmosphere was sampled at 2 bar and 10 bar pressures.