Word: venusians
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Following the U.S.'s successful exploration of the planet Venus with multiple Pioneer spacecraft, the Soviet Union last week landed an unmanned probe of its own on the Venusian surface. Unlike the American ships, which were primarily designed to study the Venusian atmosphere, Venera 12's lander also transmitted data from the surface for an impressive 110 min. before succumbing to the 480° C (900° F) temperature. As usual, the Soviets mixed in a little politics, placing an image of Lenin on the planet. Another Soviet craft, Venera 11, was set to reach this hot world...
...will just barely nose out its sister ship, arriving at Venus on Dec. 4. Its assignment is different too; it will ease into orbit around Venus, and in addition to scanning the atmosphere below with an array of instruments, it will beam powerful radar signals through the Venusian clouds and bounce them off the surface. Pioneer 1 will then radio the radar data back to earth, where scientists hope to produce a topographic map of 35% of the hidden Venusian surface showing details 100 meters (330 ft.) high and 16 km (10 miles) across. Earlier radar scans of the surface...
...moving, pale yellow clouds, its surface temperature about 480° C. (900° F.)-hot enough to melt lead-Venus has tenaciously resisted attempts to probe its secrets. As Earth and Venus move closer together this year, two American and two Russian space probes will again test the formidable Venusian defenses. Last week, after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral, the first U.S. ship was speeding toward a Dec. 4 rendezvous with Venus and the most extensive atmospheric and topographical survey ever made of that planet...
...smaller rocket motor enabled scientists to cram a dozen instruments into Pioneer's drum-shaped "bus," 2.5 meters (8.2 ft.) in diameter. In addition to carrying devices that will map the Venusian atmosphere and cloud formations, analyze the composition of the clouds and measure the interaction between the "solar wind" and the atmosphere, Pioneer 1 will use radar to penetrate the clouds and produce a rough topographic map of much of the Venusian surface. Previous radar scans, made by the giant radio telescope in Arecibo, P.R., have already detected some craters, a large chasm, possible volcanoes, mountainous areas...
...will arrive at Venus only five days after Pioneer 1. While it is still several million miles away from Venus, the Pioneer 2 bus will release a large probe and then three small ones. The bus and separated probes will continue their journey until they plunge into the Venusian atmosphere. Packed with instruments, they will all begin to take readings of atmospheric temperatures, density, composition and distribution as they descend. None is expected to land intact...