Launch of Russian mission to Venus could be moved to 2034-2035 - Space Research Institute

MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - The launch of a Russian spacecraft to Venus, scheduled for 2031, could be postponed f 2034-2035, head of research at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Research Institute, Academy member Lev Zelyony said.

"We are dealing with uncertainty at present in relations with Roscosmos, scientists insist on the launch in 2031-2031 to get into this flotilla of European and U.S. spacecraft," Zelyony said at the 65th Vernadsky Scientific Readings on Wednesday.

At the same time, to ensure the mission's reliability, scientists do not want to rush the manufacturer of the interplanetary station, NPO Lavochkin, he said. "Therefore, the launch is most likely to be moved to 2034-2035," Zelyony said.

On April 8, 2024, Zelyony said that the launch of a Russian spacecraft to Venus was scheduled for 2031.

On November 7, 2024, Zelyony said in an interview with Interfax that work to organize the Venera-D research project was ongoing, but "the work on the concept design is not funded due to bureaucratic delays."

"It looks like we may be late. If the mission slides too far into the 2030s, then we may lose priority results. Our expedition is planned for 2031, but I don't know whether it will work out or not under the circumstances," he said.

On May 15, 2023, Russia's Roscosmos space corporation said NPO Lavochkin would start working on the concept design of the Venera-D station in early 2024.

The mission will include a lander to take Venus soil samples. The module may work for about 24 hours. As reported, phosphine gas has been found in the atmosphere of Venus. The gas is produced on Earth by bacteria in anaerobic ecosystems. The presence of phosphine is considered a sign of life on the planet.

It was also reported that Roscosmos and the Russian Academy of Sciences were exploring the possible delivery of soil, atmosphere and aerosols samples from Venus to Earth by the Venera-D mission.