Exploring Venus: The Venus Express Probe Mission

The Venus Express probe is set to launch soon to study Venus, our closest planetary neighbor. Despite its proximity, Venus's dense atmosphere and high temperatures pose challenges. The probe, carrying seven instruments, is adapted from the Mars Express design. It will travel for 153 days, then enter a polar orbit around Venus for 500 days, sending back data. The mission is controlled from Darmstadt, with launch from Baikonur using a Soyuz frigate. The mission aims to provide detailed insights into Venus's atmosphere, plasma, and surface.

What makes Venus a challenging planet to study?

• Its small size

• Its lack of atmosphere

• Its dense atmosphere and high surface temperatures

• Its distance from Earth

How many instruments does the Venus Express carry to study Venus?

• 7

• 8

• 6

• 5

What is the Venus Express spacecraft design based on?

• Jupiter Express

• Mars Express

• Mercury Express

• Saturn Express

Where will the mission be controlled from?

• Cape Canaveral

• Houston Space Center

• Kennedy Space Center

• East's Space Operations Center in Darmstadt

How long will Venus Express remain in orbit around Venus?

• 100 days

• 1000 days

• 200 days

• 500 days