Venera 1

Spacecraft n°:

USSR spacecraft n°: 22A

Launch data: Designation 00080 / 1961 Gamma1 / 61003A Launch date 12 Feb 1961 - 00:34:36 UT Launch site B, LC1 Launch vehicle Molniya 8K78 (L1-6B) Satellite type 1VA #2 Mission Venus impact Operator   Heliocentric orbit Perihelion x Aphelion 0,718 x 1,019 A.U. Incl. to ecliptic 0,6° Period (around the Sun) 300 days

Venera 1 - Credit: NASA.

Contact lost on route, passed 100 000 km from Venus during 19-21 May 1961.

Specifications: Manufacturer  Korolev Platform Sputnik 8 Mass at launch 643,5 kg Dry Mass   kg Dimension 1,05 dia - 2,03 long Basic shape Cylinder Lifetime  indef.

Venera 1

The 1VA probe, the first spacecraft sent towards Venus, consisted of a cylindrical body topped by a dome, totaling 2 meters in height. Two solar panels extended radially from the cylinder. A large (over 2 meter diameter) high-gain net antenna was used to receive signals from the ground. This antenna was attached to the cylinder. A long antenna arm was used to transmit signals to Earth. The probe was equipped with scientific instruments including a magnetometer attached to the end of a 2 meter boom, ion traps, micrometeorite detectors, and cosmic radiation counters. The dome contained a pressurized sphere which carried a Soviet pennant and was designed to float on the putative Venus oceans after the intended Venus impact. Venera 1 had no on-board propulsion systems. Temperature control was achieved with thermal shutters.

• Venera 1 was the first spacecraft to fly by Venus. It was launched first into a 229 x 282 km parking orbit, then boosted toward Venus by the restartable Molniya upper stage. On 19 February, 7 days after launch, at a distance of about two million km from Earth, contact with the spacecraft was lost. On May 19 and 20, 1961, Venera 1 passed within 100,000 km of Venus and entered a heliocentric orbit. This failure resulted in only the following objectives being met: checking of methods of setting space objects on an interplanetary course; checking of extra-long-range communications with and control of the space station; more accurate calculation of the dimension of the solar system; a number of physical investigations in space.
• Sputnik 8 Mass: 6,424 kg. Perigee: 229 km. Apogee: 282 km. Inclination: 65.0 deg. Summary: Launched Venera 1 from low Earth orbit.