Venera 8

Launch data: Designation  05912 / 72021A Launch date  27 Mar 1972 Launch site  Baikonur Launch vehicle  Molniya-M/Blok-MVL (8K78M) Mission  Venus lander Satellite type  3V Heliocentric orbit Perihelion / Aphelion   Incl. to ecliptic   ° Period   min

Mission details:

• Venus atmospheric probe. The spacecraft took 117 days to reach Venus, entering the atmosphere on 22 July 1972. Descent speed was reduced from 41,696 km/hr to about 900 km/hr by aerobraking. The 2.5 meter diameter parachute opened at an altitude of 60 km, and a refrigeration system was used to cool the interior components. Venera 8 transmitted data during the descent and continued to send back data for 50 minutes after landing. The probe confirmed the earlier data on the high Venus surface temperature and pressure returned by Venera 7, and also measured the light level as being suitable for surface photography, finding it to be similar to the amount of light on Earth on an overcast day.

Venera 8 Lander - Credit: NASA.

Venera-8/9 landing capsule - Credit: Andy Salmon.