Venera 9 Descent Craft
Courtesy of NASA's National Space Science Data Center
Launch Date: 1975-06-08
Description
On October 20, 1975, this spacecraft was separated from the Orbiter, and
landing was made with the sun near zenith at 0513 UT on October 22. 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 53 min
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 the
Venera 10 landing site. Preliminary results indicated: (A) clouds 30-40 kilometers
thick with bases at 30-35 kilometers altitude, (B) atmospheric constituents
including HCl, HF, Br, and I, (C) surface pressure about 90 (earth)
atmospheres, (D) surface temperature 485 deg C, (E) light levels comparable
to those at earth midlatitudes on a cloudy summer day, and (F) successful TV
photography showing shadows, no apparent dust in the air, and a variety of
30-40 cm rocks which were not eroded.
Space History
Views of the Solar System Copyright © 1997 by
Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved.