Venera 7

Launch data: Designation  04489 / 70060A Launch date  17 Aug 1970 - 05:38 UTC Launch site  Baikonur Launch vehicle  Molniya-M/Blok-MVL (8K78M) Mission  Venus lander Satellite type  .V (V-70) Heliocentric orbit Perihelion / Aphelion   Incl. to ecliptic   ° Period   min

Venera 7

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor  Lavochkin Operator   Platform   Mass at launch   kg On-orbit dry Mass  1180 kg Lander Mass  495 kg Basic shape   Dimension   Solar array   Stabilization   DC power   Decay: Out of service:   Cause:   Decay date on Venus:  15 Dec 1970 Lifetime:  days

Venera 7 capsule

Mission details:

• Venera 7 was launched from an earth parking orbit towards Venus to study the Venusian atmosphere and other phenomena of the planet.
• It entered the atmosphere of Venus on December 15, 1970, and a landing capsule was jettisoned.
• After aerodynamic braking, a parachute system was deployed. The capsule landed on the planet at 05:34:10 UTC of the same day. Landing coordinates are 5°S 351°E.
• The capsule antenna was extended, and signals were returned for 35 minutes. Venera 7 suddenly went silent. However, recording tapes kept rolling. A few weeks later, another 23 minutes of very weak signals were found on them. The spacecraft had landed on Venus, probably bounced onto its side on landing, and the medium gain antenna was not pointed correctly for strong signal transmission to Earth.
• The capsule became the first man-made spacecraft to successfully land on another planet and to transmit data from there back to Earth.