Solar Powered Airships To Explore Venus: NASA’s On the Roll
Solar Powered Airships To Explore Venus: NASA’s On the Roll
NASA has now set its sight on Venus. NASA researchers hold that the upper atmosphere of Venus is “probably the most Earth-like environment that’s out there.” Now NASA is planning a space probe that circles the planet while using the radar for charting the surface of the planet.
Solar Powered Airship For Exploring Earth’s Twin
NASA is planning to send a solar powered airship to investigate the atmosphere of Earth’s twin planet, The aim of the US space organisation is to eventually establish a permanent human colony in a cloud city which floats above the planetary neighbour of earth.
Before humans can be send to Mars, they should be send to Venus instead, according to Dale Arney and Chris Jones from the Space Mission Analysis Branch of NASA’s Systems Analysis and Concept Directorate at the Virginia based Langley Research Centre.
HAVOC To Explore Venusian Atmosphere
NASA’s HAVOC or High Altitude Venus Operational Concept mission is aiming to explore the Venusian atmosphere instead of exploring its surface. At the height of 50 kilometres above the surface of Venus, there is an atmosphere of pressure and slightly lower gravity than our planet.
Astronauts have also said that they would be protected from radiation within the atmosphere of Venus. The proximity of the planet to sun ensures that it provides 40% more solar power than the earth receives and 240 percent more than seen on the Red Planet.
As the orbits of Earth and Venus align over a period of time, a crewed mission to Venus would need 440 days using current or near term propulsion technology. It would take 500 days to do the same thing for Mars.
HAVOC involves a series of missions including a robotic mission followed by a crewed one with stay of around 30 days. The mission would then be followed by a 30 day atmospheric stay. Later missions will try to stay longer and the aim is an eventual floating cloud city with human habitation.
Solar Power Rules
A helium filled solar powered airship will aim towards exploring the atmosphere of the planet. The robotic version is around 31 metres long while the length of the crewed version will be 130 metres long. The crewed version will come with a ascent and small habitat vehicle and a winged two stage rocket slung below the airship. This version will be used to return to the Venusian orbit and home as well.
Conclusion
Exploring Venus is a more viable option than exploring the Red Planet for now. Venus has long since been known as Earth’s twin. It will be interesting to see if the neighbouring planet also mimics earth when it comes to sustaining human life and habitation.
