Russia is reviving its ambition to explore Venus with the Venera-D mission, aiming for launch before 2036. Named as part of the country’s new national space program, the project is gearing up for a rigorous design phase starting in January 2026, according to Oleg Korablev, head of the Department of Planetary Physics at the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Over the next two years, engineers and scientists from IKI will collaborate with the Lavochkin Association to finalize the mission draft, holding multiple coordination meetings to streamline progress. "The launch will definitely take place within the current planning period, no later than 2036," Korablev told local media.
Venera-D is setting its sights on multiple fronts: an orbital spacecraft to map and relay data, a lander to touch down on Venus’s scorching surface, and an innovative balloon probe to drift through the planet’s dense atmosphere. Earlier projections by IKI’s academician Lev Zeleny suggested a likely launch window around 2034 or 2035, underscoring the mission’s ambitious timeline.
For young global citizens, tech enthusiasts and changemakers, Venera-D represents a chance to glimpse new chapters in interplanetary exploration. As preparations accelerate, the mission will not only push the boundaries of planetary science but also spark conversations about international collaboration and sustainable innovation in space.
Stay tuned to see how Russia’s Venus quest unfolds—2036 is closer than it seems when you’re charting the course to another world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
