Venera 5

Venera 5

Mission type	Venus atmospheric probe
COSPAR ID	1969-001A
SATCAT №	3642
Mission duration	131 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	2V (V-69) No.330
Manufacturer	Lavochkin
Launch mass	1,130 kilograms (2,490 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	January 5, 1969, 06:28:08 UTC
Rocket	Molniya-M
Launch site	Baikonur 1/5
End of mission
Last contact	16 May 1969
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Heliocentric
Venus atmospheric probe
Atmospheric entry	16 May 1969

Venera 5 (Russian: Венера-5 meaning Venus 5) (manufacturer's designation: 2V (V-69)) was a probe in the Soviet space program Venera for the exploration of Venus.

Venera 5 was launched towards Venus to obtain atmospheric data. The spacecraft was very similar to Venera 4 although it was of a stronger design. The launch was conducted using a Molniya-M rocket, flying from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

When the atmosphere of Venus was approached, a capsule weighing 405 kg and containing scientific instruments was jettisoned from the main spacecraft. During satellite descent towards the surface of Venus, a parachute opened to slow the rate of descent. For 53 minutes on May 16, 1969, while the capsule was suspended from the parachute, data from the Venusian atmosphere were returned.^[1] It landed at 3°S 18°E / 3°S 18°E. The spacecraft also carried a medallion bearing the State Coat of Arms of the USSR and a bas-relief of V. I. Lenin to the night side of Venus.

Given the results from Venera 4, the Venera 5 and Venera 6 landers contained new chemical analysis experiments tuned to provide more precise measurements of the atmosphere's components. Knowing the atmosphere was extremely dense, the parachutes were also made smaller so the capsule would reach its full crush depth before running out of power (as Venera 4 had done).

See also

• List of missions to Venus

References

1. Anne Marie Helmenstine, "This Day in Science History - May 16 - Venera 5 'Landing'", About.com

External links

• Astronautix.com