From 1961 to 1983, the former Soviet Union launched a number of probes toward Venus. Most were named Venera. With its sulfuric acid clouds and boiling-hot temperatures, Venus is a tremendous challenge for spacecraft. Many of the 19 Soviet missions failed, but Venera 4 was the first spaceship to enter the atmosphere of another planet; Venera 7 was the first to land on another planet; and Venera 9 transmitted the first photographs from the surface of another planet. The last two Venera probes
were renamed Vega and included instruments that continued on
to view Halley’s comet.
The United States also sent three Mariners and two Pioneer missions to Venus. Mariner 2 was the first spaceship to fly by another planet at close range. In 1974, Mariner 10 zoomed past Venus on its way to three encounters with the planet Mercury. Mariner 10 discovered that Mercury is completely covered by craters, like the Moon. A five-year radar-mapping mission called Magellan was also sent to Venus. The Magellan probe showed us that there were once many large volcanoes on Venus.
The United States also sent three Mariners and two Pioneer missions to Venus. Mariner 2 was the first spaceship to fly by another planet at close range. In 1974, Mariner 10 zoomed past Venus on its way to three encounters with the planet Mercury. Mariner 10 discovered that Mercury is completely covered by craters, like the Moon. A five-year radar-mapping mission called Magellan was also sent to Venus. The Magellan probe showed us that there were once many large volcanoes on Venus.
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