If I was taking a space shuttle from Earth to Venus, how long would it take me? I would like to know how long it would take me when Earth is closest to Venus, and/or when it is farthest away from Venus. It would be nice to know what are the dates when Earth is closest and farthest away from Venus, too. Thanks!
2006-11-07 04:36:07 · 5 answers · asked by Zoe C 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
PAST MISSION LAUNCHED TO VENUS AND ARRIVAL
Mariner 2 Aug 27, 1962 Dec 14, 1962
Mariner 5 June 14, 1967 Oct 19, 1967
Mariner 10 Nov 3, 1973 Feb 5, 1974
Pioneer May 20, 1978 Dec 4, 1978
Magellan May 4, 1989 Aug 10, 1990
The distance between Earth and Venus varies depending on where the two planets are in their orbits around the sun. So the time it takes to travel to Venus from Earth depends on the distance between the two planets at the time of launch. It also depends on the speed of the spacecraft and the path chosen.
The next transit of Venus occurs in June 2012.
2006-11-07 05:16:43 · answer #1 · answered by Nuthouse 4456 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
asssuming that you set off in a straight line when venus and earth are approaching each other, so that you arrive when they are at there closest the distance between them, (1.5E8 km(1AU) - 1.082E8km(venus to sun)km) and assuming that the Shuttle travels at 7.8km a sec, then it would take about 4 years. This is not the quickest time possible by using sling shots around the more massive planets (namely jupiter) and the sun it would be possible to reduce this time to a matter of months.
For furthest away add the radius of venuses radius to 1AU and do a similar calculation
any astronomy magazine would probably have a data sheet section that would tell you the dates for the extremes of their orbits.
2006-11-07 13:23:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dates for closest approach of Venus and Earth vary, so that question cannot be answered. Closest approach is called "Inferior Conjunction" and furthest is "Superior Conjunction. These are predicted in various magazines, such as Sky and Telescope and Astronomy.
If you took a spaceship to Venus the method used to get there with the least expenditure of fuel is called the Hohmann Transfer Orbit. As the spacecraft leaves Earth it leaves in a direction opposite of the direction of travel of the Earth (meaning it slows down). Immediately it starts "falling" in an elliptical orbit inward toward the sun, and if the timing and velocity change are both correct the closest part of the elliptical orbit (the perihelion) will coincide with the position of Venus. At that point, if you wish to stay the engines will fire again to slow you down (you are now going too fast, and without slowing down you would again return to the position of the orbit of the earth). Whew. It takes 4.8 months using a Hohmann Transfer Orbit to get to Venus. It takes 8 2/3 months using the same technique to get to Mars (to get to Mars you speed up first to get out to the orbit of Mars then speed up again to maintain Mar's distance from the sun).
Interestingly, in terms of velocity changes required (hence fuel consumption) it is easier to send a probe to Mars or Venus and land than it is to send a probe to the moon and land on it. The reason? Mars has an atmosphere to do much of the work of slowing a spacecraft in preparation for landing...the moon has no such atmosphere, so all the work has to be done by rocket engines.
2006-11-07 13:25:01 · answer #3 · answered by David A 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
depends on if you have to stop and pee every hour
2006-11-07 13:01:47 · answer #4 · answered by llamasrocknroll 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Will you have any luggage?
2006-11-07 12:44:17 · answer #5 · answered by mmd 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋