The last decade has been dominated by exploration of Mars. Venus exploration has been deemed impossible due to its inhospitable conditions on the planet. However NASA believes that Cloud City could be the answer to this problem.
Most space agencies are focusing their attention on Mars. However giving a second look Venus also seems a good place considering it is closer at distances that range between 38 million kilometers and 261 million kilometers as compared to Mars which is at distances that ranges between 56 million to 401 million kilometers, it’s Earth’s closest neighbor.
Numerous probes have been sent to the planet’s surface and the instruments aboard the probes could last hardly 2 hours before succumbing to the inhospitable conditions on Venus. The Venus probe has to endure crushing pressure which is 92 times greater than Earth. It will also have to endure a searing temperature of 462 degrees Celsius. There are extreme volcanic activities and a dense atmosphere which is mostly composed of carbon dioxide with some nitrogen and a cloud layer which is composed of sulfuric acid.
However NASA says it has a solution in the form of HAVOC. It is a spacecraft which has been designed to cater to Venus exploration sometime in future. A brainchild of Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center, the lighter than air rocket will stay above the acid clouds for 30 days enabling researchers to collect data about the planet’s atmosphere.
The conditions on the surface of the planet may not be very favorable to humans; it is a different story at a height of 50 kilometers. Here the conditions are much akin to that on Earth. The atmospheric pressure is comparable and the gravity is only slightly lower. The conditions will enable longer stays and will also negate the adverse effects of living in Zero gravity. The temperature will be 75 degrees Celsius which is hot but manageable. The atmosphere will also afford protection from solar radiation.
The mission will start with the deployment of a robotic probe onto planet to carry out the initial checks and investigations. It will be followed by a crewed mission for 30 days floating above the sulfuric acid clouds. The final goal is a permanent human presence in the floating cloud citycialis 5mg price cvs
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