NASA's Pioneer 12 and 13 probes, also called the Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Pioneer Venus Multiprobe, were the first US spacecraft to study Venus in detail.
Both unmanned probes were launched and arrived at the planet in 1978. Pioneer 12 orbited the planet, studied its atmosphere and returned radar maps of the surface. Pioneer 13 released four smaller atmospheric probes into Venus's thick clouds.
Both Pioneer 12 and 13 were deemed a success and gave scientists more information about the extreme conditions on Venus.
Photo: Artist's impression of the Pioneer Venus Multiprobe, also called Pioneer 13 (NASA)
The Pioneer missions to Venus (Pioneer 12 and 13), launched in 1978, investigated the planet's atmosphere and created a crude radar map of the surface. The findings lead scientists to develop competing theories about the geological processes that shaped the Venusian surface. A later mission called Magellan would provide more information for geologists and lead to new theories.
Launched in 1978, the American Pioneer Venus probes (Pioneer 12 and 13) tried to find out why Venus is so much hotter than theory predicted it should be given its distance from the Sun. Using data from the mission, scientists created computer models that suggested that early water on the Venusian surface boiled away to form a thick, insulating atmosphere that trapped heat.
Sir Patrick Moore describes the Pioneer 13 probe's findings in a 1982 edition of the Sky at Night. He talks about volcanism on the planet and the hostile conditions at the surface. Though Sir Patrick speaks about active volcanism on Venus, a volcanic eruption has not been witnessed there.
The Pioneer mission to Venus comprised two components, launched separately. Pioneer Venus 1 or Pioneer Venus Orbiter was launched in 1978, and studied the planet for more than a decade after orbital insertion in 1978. Pioneer Venus 2 or Pioneer Venus Multiprobe sent four small probes into the Venusian atmosphere. This was managed by NASA Ames Research Center as part of the Pioneer series of spacecraft that included Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11.
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