As the next decade approaches, a new era of exploration of Venus is set to begin, with several ambitious missions in the pipeline. Following the recent conclusion of the Akatsuki mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which provided crucial data on Venus’s atmosphere for a decade, attention turns to future missions aiming to deepen our understanding of Earth’s enigmatic twin.
Upcoming Venus Missions in the Next Decade
Several national space agencies and private organizations are preparing to launch missions to Venus, each with unique objectives. Here is a summary of the key upcoming missions:
NASA Missions
- DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging)
- Expected Launch: Early 2030s
- Budget: $500 million
- Objective: To study Venus’s atmosphere and search for evidence of an ancient water cycle.
- Features: Will include a descent probe to take measurements from the thick atmosphere and capture images of the surface.
- VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy)
- Expected Launch: No earlier than 2031
- Budget: $500 million
- Objective: To investigate the geological history of Venus and how it diverged from Earth.
- Features: Will utilize aerobraking to optimize fuel usage for its scientific instruments.
European Space Agency’s Moon Mission
- Envision
- Expected Launch: No earlier than November 2031
- Budget: €610 million (approximately $705 million)
- Objective: To explore the habitability potential of Venus and its geological history.
- Features: Equipped with ground-mapping radar, optical spectrometers, and subsurface radar sounders for comprehensive data collection.
Private Missions
- Venus Life Finder
- Expected Launch: Summer 2026
- Budget: Approximately $10 million
- Objective: To detect organic compounds in Venus’s atmosphere.
- Collaboration: Rocket Lab and MIT are partnering on this mission.
Indian Space Research Organisation Mission
- Venus Orbiter Mission (Shukrayaan)
- Expected Launch: No earlier than 2028
- Budget: $147 million (approximately 12.36 billion rupees)
- Objective: To study the atmospheric conditions and surface characteristics of Venus.
- Features: The mission will include high-resolution surface mapping and test new atmospheric observation techniques.
Challenges Ahead
While these missions hold great promise, they face financial uncertainties. NASA’s budget for fiscal 2026 is under review, with significant cuts proposed that could impact these Venus missions. The outcome of the political budget negotiations will play a crucial role in determining which missions proceed.
The ambition to explore Venus reflects humanity’s commitment to uncovering the mysteries of our neighboring planet. With a focus on understanding the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets, these upcoming missions may provide invaluable insights into not only Venus but also the broader context of planetary science.
