The exploration of Venus has been mainly about getting down to the surface of the planet. The Soviet Union sacrificed lander after lander to discover just how extreme the conditions are down there on the ground.
But higher up, among the clouds, the climate on Venus is surprisingly Earthlike in temperature and pressure, and there have been some fascinating ideas for robotic and human explorers to fly the skies of Venus, to help understand our evil twin planet.
Let’s take a look at them.
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References:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/in-depth/
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/venusfact.html
http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Venus_Express/Acid_clouds_and_lightning
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/magellan/in-depth/
https://progearthplanetsci.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40645-018-0181-x
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/2197/aerial-platforms-for-the-scientific-exploration-of-venus/
https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/venus-20070827.html
https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/handle/2014/44535/13-5079_A1b.pdf?sequence=1
https://unmanned-aerial.com/nasa-taps-black-swift-to-develop-uas-for-studying-venus
https://www.universetoday.com/144045/stingray-glider-to-explore-the-cloudtops-of-venus/
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/meetings/STIM/presentations/Polidan_VAMP%20for%20STIM%20Meeting%20Jan%202013%20-%20Final%20Approved.pdf
https://sacd.larc.nasa.gov/smab/havoc/
Support Universe Today podcasts with Fraser Cain
My laptop is nearly six years old. It runs out of breath.
I am hearing and reading about a lot of concrete construction without rebar. Earthquakes don’t kill people, it is the stuff we build that falls in that kills people. Concrete construction without rebar in a fault zone is like building coffins combined with a roulette wheel — take your chances. A Richter 7.0 quake is really a medium-large quake. With proper construction there should be nowhere near this death toll, such as the 1994 Northridge quake about this magnitude. The problem comes down to “have and have-not.”
LC
@LC:
Absolutely it comes down to the haves and the have-nots. Let’s hope that when the international community helps rebuild Haiti, there’s no concession to cost. This area is prone to hurricanes and earthquakes, and this will happen in the future. The majority of the Haitian people were living on the edge prior to this disaster, this simply amplifies their dire living conditions. I hope those that are able contribute what they can, I know I have.