Venus Evolution Through Time: Key Science Questions, Selected Mission Concepts and Future Investigations

Abstract

In this work we discuss various selected mission concepts addressing Venus evolution through time. More specifically, we address investigations and payload instrument concepts supporting scientific goals and open questions presented in the companion articles of this volume. Also included are their related investigations (observations & modeling) and discussion of which measurements and future data products are needed to better constrain Venus’ atmosphere, climate, surface, interior and habitability evolution through time. A new fleet of Venus missions has been selected, and new mission concepts will continue to be considered for future selections. Missions under development include radar-equipped ESA-led EnVision M5 orbiter mission (European Space Agency 2021), NASA-JPL’s VERITAS orbiter mission (Smrekar et al. 2022a), NASA-GSFC’s DAVINCI entry probe/flyby mission (Garvin et al. 2022a). The data acquired with the VERITAS, DAVINCI, and EnVision from the end of this decade will fundamentally improve our understanding of the planet’s long term history, current activity and evolutionary path. We further describe future mission concepts and measurements beyond the current framework of selected missions, as well as the synergies between these mission concepts, ground-based and space-based observatories and facilities, laboratory measurements, and future algorithmic or modeling activities that pave the way for the development of a Venus program that extends into the 2040s (Wilson et al. 2022).

Possible Effects of Volcanic Eruptions on the Modern Atmosphere of Venus

“… 2022 ; Widemann et al. 2023 ). The expected improvement in measurement sensitivity for mesospheric species from upcoming missions is listed in Table 2 .…”

“…( 2023 , this collection) notes that future InSAR missions (see the review in Widemann et al. 2023 , this collection) will significantly improve our understanding of the sequence of events on the surface and evaluate whether or not fundamental changes in the nature of geologic activity have occurred over the past several hundred million years.…”

“… 2022 ; Widemann et al. 2023 , this collection) is scheduled to sample chemical and isotopic compositions in the lower atmosphere in early 2030s with the Venus Mass Spectrometer (VMS) and the Venus Tunable Laser Spectrometer (VTLS). Although these instruments have different performance capabilities, they will provide data on mixing ratios of major reactive gases (CO 2 , SO 2 , H 2 O, CO, OCS, H 2 S, S n , H 2 SO 4 , and HCl) and stable isotope composition of H, O, C, S, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe.…”

“…3 , we discuss how volcanic plumes would be detectable with in situ instrumental capabilities, such as the DAVINCI mission or future descent probe or aerial platform concepts (Widemann et al. 2023 , this collection). In Sect.…”

Author's Reply to Comment by Greaves et al. on “Phosphine in the Venusian Atmosphere: A Strict Upper Limit From SOFIA GREAT Observations”

“…

Venus, with its similar size and mass to Earth, and thick atmosphere, is a key target for building our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and habitability of terrestrial planets (Westall et al, 2023;Widemann et al, 2023). Ground-based millimeter and submillimeter-wave spectroscopy is a powerful technique for quantifying molecular abundances, but careful data calibration is required to ensure sufficient dynamic range for the detection of weak atmospheric absorption features toward bright planetary bodies.

…”