Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Randal in Houston TX USA on 26/07/2008 15:12:52

Title: What condition would the spacecraft that landed on Venus be in?
Post by: Randal in Houston TX USA on 26/07/2008 15:12:52
Randal in Houston TX USA asked the Naked Scientists:

If you went to visit the Soviet spacecraft that landed on Venus (Vega and
Venera series), what condition would they be in?  Would the temperature,
pressure, and acidity of the Venusian atmosphere have seriously damaged or destroyed them?

What do you think?
Title: What condition would the spacecraft that landed on Venus be in?
Post by: LeeE on 26/07/2008 23:15:22
They would almost certainly be seriously damaged, but probably not completely destroyed, in the sense of being reduced to dust.  I believe they were only expected to work for a few hours or so after touch-down anyway, not because they were badly made, but because of the factors you mention.
Title: What condition would the spacecraft that landed on Venus be in?
Post by: syhprum on 27/07/2008 08:26:31
it would be an interesting exercise to try and design electronics etc that would function for any length of time at the ambient temperature of the Venusion surface (500°C and 90 Bar)' valve technology might just about work but I cannot think how any computer like function could be made to work.
I seem to be out of date! http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/SiC/SiC.html