Possibility of using a penetrator to explore the planet Venus

Abstract

The planet Venus has specific conditions for the operation of research vehicles on it – a dense and “aggressive” atmosphere, high temperature and pressure, and strong winds. A penetra tor as a technical means of research is a tool for collecting primary scientific information about the physical and chemical composition of the soil, studying seismic activity and climate, which will help in the best way to explore the soil of Venus. The possibility of using a penetrator for the study of Venus was shown, an analysis of existing projects on this topic was carried out, a prototype was selected on the basis of which it is possible to simulate a ballistic descent in the atmosphere - this is the Mars-96 project, which included two penetrators. A mathematical model of the motion of the penetrator probe in the atmosphere of Venus has been compiled, using which evaluation calcula- tions of the prototype with various mass-dimensional characteristics, as well as for different diame- ters of the inflatable braking device and without it, have been carried out.