-
#20 by russianhalo117 on 24 May, 2019 22:09
-
Why S-band radar? With all the X-Band and L-Band experience in European SAR missions, I would have assumed you could have gotten a lot of “legacy” designs. I’m pretty sure it had to do with the science requirements and S-band radar characteristics. But I am intrigued.
Different results are obtained depending upon band on the EMS. -
#21 by zubenelgenubi on 20 Jul, 2020 21:12
-
Cross-post:
https://envisionvenus.eu/envision/
QuoteThe M-class mission [M5?] would be launched on an Ariane 6.2 in 2032, arriving at Venus after a five month cruise, to perform 4 years of measurements with 5 cutting-edge instruments : an S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (VenSAR), a Subsurface Radar Sounder (SRS) and VenSpec, a suite of three spectrometers and spectro-imagers : VenSpec-M (Infrared Imager), VenSpec-H (IR spectrometer), and VenSpec-U (UV spectrometer). Envision will also characterise the gravity field of Venus thanks to a Radio Science Experiment. The mission is currently in its concept study phase for a selection expected in 2021.
-
#22 by vjkane on 25 Apr, 2021 13:24
-
There's a new mission study report (an ESA yellow book) on the EnVision proposal dated from February 2021.
https://www.cosmos.esa.int/documents/5763359/5763378/EnVision_YB_final.pdf/e9612355-67de-42a3-c25a-af1683f6fda3?t=1616679461807
So far as I know, ESA still plans to announce whether it is selecting EnVision or THESEUS, which "will use long Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) to solve key questions about the early Universe and will become a cornerstone of multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics," in June. (That's the same month as NASA plans to announce it's Discovery mission selection.
The only major change I saw versus previous plans was that EnVision would now use a JPL-supplied S-band radar mapping instrument instead of a unit supplied by Europe. (The proposed VERITAS Discovery mission would use an X-band radar mapping instrument.)
EnVision would map ~40% of Venus in high resolution with its synthetic aperture radar versus near global coverage with VERITAS. I didn't find an explicit statement of why EnVision maps less of the planet (but didn't read the document in detail, either). I suspect that it is a combination of much of Venus' surface is monotonous plains, possible limitations on the amount of data that could be returned through Europe's deep space antennas, and making more repeat imaging (for example, stereo imaging for better local topography) in the interesting places.
In addition to the SAR, EnVision would carry three spectrometers and a ground penetrating radar. The mission would make near global observations with these instruments (and with the main radar unit for global topography).
EnVision would begin making observations in the mid-2030s compared to the mid-2020s for VERITAS.
For those whose sleeping schedules permit watching a presentation at 09.30 GMT, there will be one on this mission on April 29. https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/m5-public-presentation
-
#23 by baldusi on 25 Apr, 2021 14:07
-
Venus rotates so slow (and retrograde) that it is impossible to do a SSO. And to go to high inclination orbits you need a lot of delta-v or use the atmosphere. Both might be limiting technical factors that ESA would rather avoid.
-
#24 by vjkane on 25 Apr, 2021 15:06
-
Venus rotates so slow (and retrograde) that it is impossible to do a SSO. And to go to high inclination orbits you need a lot of delta-v or use the atmosphere. Both might be limiting technical factors that ESA would rather avoid.
My suspicion is that the proposers are seeking to limit the total data returned (which is still huge). This lowers the cost of the communication system and the operating costs of the deep space ground network. In a previous competition, EnVision was proposed to map the whole program but couldn't fit within the cost cap. The PI stated that limiting coverage was one strategy to limit costs. -
#25 by vjkane on 29 Apr, 2021 14:30
-
NASA has released a draft call for members of the scientific team should ESA select EnVision with NASA supplying the VenSAR radar instrument.
"EnVision is a proposed mission to Venus being considered under the European Space Agency's (ESA) Cosmic Vision program. If EnVision is selected, NASA will contribute the Venus Synthetic Aperture Radar (VenSAR) to the mission through a project implemented at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This element calls for proposals to establish a VenSAR Science Team (VeST) to work with the JPL project and the broader EnVision mission to provide scientific feedback into VenSAR development."
https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=817156/solicitationId=%7B5DA17743-D977-EA27-90A3-FCE7A450DDE5%7D/viewSolicitationDocument=1/C.26%20DRAFT%20EnVision%20VENSAR%20ST.pdf -
#26 by Alpha_Centauri on 10 Jun, 2021 10:55
-
Cross-posting, Envision was selected.
https://twitter.com/esascience/status/1402925778354987008
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57416589QuoteYou wait ages for a mission to Venus and then three come along at once.
The European Space Agency has just selected a probe called Envision to go study the second planet from the Sun. -
#27 by eeergo on 10 Jun, 2021 10:58
-
Bye (for now) Theseus, it was nice to barely meet you.
-
#28 by Alpha_Centauri on 10 Jun, 2021 13:06
-
Moral of the story...claim you've found aliens.
-
#29 by Star One on 10 Jun, 2021 16:09
-
Cross-posting, Envision was selected.
Shouldn’t that be four missions what about Rocket Lab’s? Especially as the mission is even mentioned in the article text.
https://twitter.com/esascience/status/1402925778354987008
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57416589QuoteYou wait ages for a mission to Venus and then three come along at once.
The European Space Agency has just selected a probe called Envision to go study the second planet from the Sun. -
#30 by Star One on 10 Jun, 2021 16:17
-
Moral of the story...claim you've found aliens.
In fairness to that group is not what they did. They were careful about their claims in the actual paper. It was the media who made the claims. -
#31 by Star One on 10 Jun, 2021 16:25
-
JPL press release concerning collaboration on Envision.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/then-there-were-3-nasa-to-collaborate-on-esas-new-venus-mission
Also this regarding synergies between the missions:
https://twitter.com/SGuzewich/status/1400772055805616128
U.K. government press release on U.K. involvement in Envision.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-scientists-on-a-mission-to-venus -
#32 by Kesarion on 11 Jun, 2021 13:34
-
While Venus is not in my top 10 preferred Solar System destinations, I am happy that EnVision was selected, primarily because I think ESA should develop more planetary science missions.
Between DAVINCI+, VERITAS and EnVision it looks like NASA and ESA are going to spend $1.5-2 billion over the next 15 years towards Venusian exploration. Looks like out closest neighbor is well accounted for, at least for the next generation. -
#33 by skizzo on 12 Jun, 2021 16:04
-
Hopelly this quenches the Venus thirst and we can go back to cooler destinations in the 2030s in outer space
-
#34 by plutogno on 12 Jun, 2021 17:02
-
Hopelly this quenches the Venus thirst and we can go back to cooler destinations in the 2030s in outer space
are you aware that missions are not selected based on how "cool" the destination is?
and beside, many people (including myself) find Venus very cool!
-
#35 by skizzo on 12 Jun, 2021 17:17
-
Hopelly this quenches the Venus thirst and we can go back to cooler destinations in the 2030s in outer space
are you aware that missions are not selected based on how "cool" the destination is?
and beside, many people (including myself) find Venus very cool!
Yes I am aware.
Cool, but I have a different opinion. I like Venus but I prefer other places, especially now that there are 3 missions to Venus. -
#36 by bolun on 08 Mar, 2022 13:13
-
Some renders
Artist impression of ESA's EnVision mission
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/06/EnVision11
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/06/EnVision10
Credits: ESA/VR2Planets/Damia Bouic
-
#37 by bolun on 25 Jan, 2024 20:48
-
We're heading for Venus: ESA approves EnVisionQuote
ESA’s next mission to Venus was officially ‘adopted’ today by the Agency’s Science Programme Committee. EnVision will study Venus from its inner core to its outer atmosphere, giving important new insight into the planet's history, geological activity and climate.
Being adopted means that the study phase is complete and ESA commits to implementing the mission. Following selection of the European industrial contractor later this year, work will soon begin to finalise the design and build the spacecraft. EnVision is foreseen to launch on an Ariane 6 rocket in 2031.
Image credit: ESA