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Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet

Esposito, Larry W.; Stofan, Ellen R.; Cravens, Thomas E.

With the search for extra-solar planets in full gear, it has become essential to gain a more detailed understanding of the evolution of the other earth-like planets in our own solar system. Space missions to Venus, including the Soviet Veneras, Pioneer Venus, and Magellan, provided a wealth of information about this planet' enigmatic surface and a…

Venus Express and terrestrial planet climatology

Taylor, Fredric W.; Svedhem, Håkan; Titov, Dmitri M.

After a delay of more than a decade, the exploration of Venus has resumed through the European Venus Express mission, now in orbit around the planet. The mission payload, its implementation in an elliptical polar orbit, and the science operations planned, all focus on outstanding problems associated with the atmosphere and climate of Venus. Many o…

Preface

Esposito, Larry W.; Stofan, Ellen R.; Cravens, Thomas E.

Venus has long been recognized as a sister planet to the Earth, as one of a triad of terrestrial planets with an atmosphere (Earth, Venus, Mars), and as a possible analogue for planets circling other stars. Its dense CO₂ atmosphere has provided both a lesson and a warning in our understanding of the effects of greenhouse gases.

The…

Exploring Venus: Major scientific issues and directions

Esposito, Larry W.; Stofan, Ellen R.; Cravens, Thomas E.

Venus has been a prime target of space exploration since the launch of Venera-1 in 1961. In 1962, Mariner 2 determined that the surface of Venus is hot, providing the first confirmation of its immense greenhouse effect. Venus has now been visited by numerous flybys, orbiters, atmospheric probes, landers, and balloons! Magellan's radar pierced the …