Habitability Missions

The habitability missions will determine the ability of the Venus cloud decks to support life and search for signs of life. The first mission in this series will be a probe with a parachute carrying an instrument suite to measure habitability indicators such as particle acidity, water content, and the presence of metals and nonvolatile elements. The instruments will also search for evidence of life in the clouds via biosignature gas detection and organic material. The probe mission will be followed by a balloon mission with a more complex suite of instruments such as a mass spectrometer to detect and identify complex organic molecules. The habitability missions are envisioned to be implemented during the launch window opportunities from 2026 to 2031. 

MORE ABOUT THE HABITABILITY MISSIONS …

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