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posted by chromas on Friday October 19 2018, @12:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the wreak-it dept.

High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC)

The upper atmosphere of Venus, with similar pressure, density, gravity, and radiation protection to that of the surface of the earth, is relatively benign at 50 km. A lighter-than-air vehicle could carry either a host of instruments and probes, or a habitat and ascent vehicle for a crew of two astronauts to explore Venus for up to a month. Such a mission would require less time to complete than a crewed Mars mission.

A recent internal NASA study of a High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC) led to the development of an evolutionary program for the exploration of Venus, with focus on the mission architecture and vehicle concept for a 30 day crewed mission into Venus's atmosphere.

Key technical challenges for the mission include performing the aerocapture maneuvers at Venus and Earth, inserting and inflating the airship at Venus, and protecting the solar panels and structure from the sulfuric acid in the atmosphere. With advances in technology and further refinement of the concept, missions to the Venusian atmosphere can expand humanity's future in space.

What is needed?

The first proof of concept identified candidate materials and evaluated them, finding FEP-Teflon (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene-Teflon) to maintain 90 percent transmittance to relevant spectra even after 30 days of immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid. The second proof of concept developed and verified a packaging algorithm for the airship envelope to inform the entry, descent, and inflation analysis.

Also at The Conversation.

Previously: Cloud Cities on Venus?


Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday October 19 2018, @04:05PM (1 child)

    by Freeman (732) on Friday October 19 2018, @04:05PM (#750990) Journal

    Risking a crewed flight in conditions like that seems reckless. I assume, they would plan on unmanned launches, before jumping in with both feet?

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday October 19 2018, @11:31PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Friday October 19 2018, @11:31PM (#751203)

    Like the Mars one-way trip, you'd still get lots of volunteers.
    Main difference is that the Mars ones would leave bodies and trash on the planet for others to contemplate, while Venus is really good at cleaning up.