2006-09-30 07:58:17 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Did You Know Why Astronauts Cannot Land on Venus?
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and it is also the closest planet to Earth. Venus and Earth are both rocky planets and they are almost the same size. But Venus is extremely hot because a thick layer of swirling acid clouds covers it completely.
This combination of heat and acid clouds makes it impossible for astronauts to land on planet Venus.
Even though the first space probes that visited Venus were made of tough material, they were crushed as they tried to land. Later probes lasted just long enough to send a few pictures back to Earth. Why? The air on this planet presses down much harder than the air on Earth.
2006-09-30 08:07:01 · answer #1 · answered by shepardj2005 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you mean by "you" when you say "can you land?" Certainly it is possible to soft land un-manned probes on the surface of Venus. Both the US and Russia have done this already, with the Russians sending back pictures. If you are talking about human astronauts, the answer is likely to be forever "no", since the surface of Venus is so inhospitable to life as we know it. On the majority of the surface the temperature is ~900 degrees F and the air pressure is ~90 atmospheres, which is far worse than any pressure cookers that we employ to kill the most tenaceous germs here on Earth. Astronauts would need so much protection from the temperature and pressure that this prospect remains undoable, in my opinion. However, the tallest mountains on Venus are the Maxwell Montes, which are ~38,000 feet above the mean surface. At this level, the temperature is "only" ~675 degrees F and the atmospheric pressure is "only" ~25 atmospheres, which is slightly more tolerable, but still a definite pressure cooker environment. Unfortunately, the poles of Venus are no cooler than the equator so that won't help any. However, at an altitude of ~120,000 feet, there is a zone in the atmosphere where the temperature is ~70 degrees F and the pressure is ~3/4-1 atmosphere, which is quite Earth-like. An astronaut riding on a plane or in a balloon at this level would feel quite comfortable and could exist without any space suit, although he or she would need an oxygen mask or else some sort of scuba-type arrangement. The gravity that one would feel would be ~88% of Earth, which would feel very much at home as well. In the Star-Wars movie series, Han Solo visited such a world that had a floating city, where he was unfortunately "carborized". But getting back to Venus, I believe NASA has some plans to send some unmanned landers to the surface of Venus that are engineered to live and function permanently in the hellish environment, using Gallium Arsenide semiconductor chips as well as dusting off some old vacuum tube based electronic technology that could perform well in the high temperatures and pressures. And there are some space-nuts like myself who dream of terra-forming Venus someday, but that is a different story altogether!
2006-09-30 08:36:20 · answer #2 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sure it is possible, the Russians done it in the 1970's, however the gravity was so massive that the unmanned probe's were crushed within 13 minutes. I supplied a link below of a little information about the spacecraft as well as photo's from the surface of venus.
2006-09-30 08:09:59 · answer #3 · answered by CopenJackenHagen 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is posible but you would likely be crushed once you get out of your spaceship by the heavy atmosphere (nearly 10 times as dense as earth.)
Then there is the issue of temperature which is about 150 F. You might survive a few minutes but would end up frying.
Finally don't take off your spacesuit the atmosphere is poison. Your head would explode in about 10 seconds.
2006-09-30 08:04:10 · answer #4 · answered by my_iq_135 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. It has already been done, first by the USSR, then by the US. The crafts don't last long due to the heat, sulfuric acid in the atmosphere, and the incredible pressures.
2006-09-30 09:59:49 · answer #5 · answered by ericscribener 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure. As long as you have a spaceship that can hold up to 900F temperatures, 1400psi (100 times Earth's) atmosphere and sulfuric acid rain. The gravity isn't crushing. It's a little less than Earths.
2006-09-30 08:00:59 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Russians did send a probe there. You can land, but are destroyed pretty quick by temp/pressure
2006-09-30 08:05:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If I had the technology I could Land but I should not
2006-09-30 08:02:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not alive with our present technology. A drone ship could be landed, but I don't think its electronics would last very long.
2006-09-30 08:02:50 · answer #9 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think u can but it would be hard, the atmosphere of venus is gas and the core is a solid so i guess u could
2006-09-30 07:59:34 · answer #10 · answered by skiszxz8 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋