The prime contractor for the EnVision mission will be selected by the end of 2024, after which the development and production phases of the spacecraft and scientific instruments will begin. The mission’s aim is to study the geology, tectonic activity, chemical composition and condition of Venus’ atmosphere with the help of modern radars and spectrometers.

The spacecraft aims to achieve unprecedented surface recognition accuracy of approximately 10 meters, which will provide ten times more detail than previous attempts.

What will the EnVision mission study / ESA photo

Mysterious Venus

The solar system’s second planet, often called Earth’s “evil twin,” has a similar size and mass to our planet, but its evolution was significantly different. With an average surface temperature of 464°C and atmospheric pressure 92 times that of Earth, Venus presents unique challenges for exploration.

Scientists hope that a comprehensive study of Venus will shed light on its history, potentially providing insights into planetary evolution and contributing to our understanding of Earth’s past and future.

EnVision’s mission approach is characterized by a holistic study of the entire planet as a system. The spacecraft will examine Venus’ surface, internal structure and atmosphere, trying to reveal the interactions between these components.

ESA has already identified a number of points of interest for the EnVision mission / Photo: ESA

Mission Scientist Anna Grete Straume-Lindner highlighted EnVision’s ability to use different measurement techniques to detect signs of active volcanism both at the surface and in the atmosphere.

This mission follows in the footsteps of ESA’s Venus Express program (2005-2014) and is in line with ongoing efforts by other space agencies.

• NASA plans to launch the DAVINCI and VERITAS automated probes to Venus around the same time as Envision.
• In addition, India has also announced its intention to explore Venus; This points to a collective interest in unraveling the mysteries of our planetary neighbour.
• Russia also has its own plans for Venus, but they are unlikely to succeed given the constant failures of space missions.

How will EnVision study Venus? Can be seen in a short video from ESA:

Meanwhile, EnVision’s collaboration with NASA will include the use of the VenSAR instrument, which will allow for the creation of high-resolution maps of the surface of Venus. The mission has the potential to improve our understanding of the geological history of Venus, support a broader understanding of planetary evolution, and ultimately improve humanity’s knowledge of survival on the planet.