Venera 10 Descent Craft
Courtesy of NASA's National Space Science Data Center
Launch Date: 1975-06-14
Description
On October 23, 1975, this spacecraft was separated from the Orbiter, and
landing was made with the sun near zenith, at 0517 UT, on October 25, 1975. A
system of circulating fluid was used to distribute the heat load. This
system, plus precooling prior to entry, permitted operation of the
spacecraft for 65 minutes after landing. During descent, heat dissipation and
deceleration were accomplished sequentially by protective hemispheric
shells, three parachutes, a disk-shaped drag brake, and a compressible,
metal, doughnut-shaped, landing cushion. The landing was about 2,200 kilometers
from Venera 9. Preliminary results provided: (A) profile of altitude
(kilometers)/pressure (Earth atmospheres)/temperature (degrees Celcius) of 42/3.3/158,
15/37/363, and 0/92/465, (B) successful TV photography showing large pancake
rocks with lava or other weathered rocks in between, and (C) surface wind
speed of 3.5 m/s.
Space History
Views of the Solar System Copyright © 1997 by
Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved.