Venus Landers

[ricksummon]

The Soviet Venera landers sent back the first pictures of the surface of Venus, though they only lasted about an hour in the extreme heat. My question is, how did they even survive that long? How can any electronic device function in temperatures hot enough to melt lead?

[md2000]

Ummm… don’t use lead solder?

This has a photo of the lander. http://astronomy.nju.edu.cn/~lixd/GA/AT4/AT406/HTML/AT40606.htm
Those pipes coming off it almost look like cooling tubes?

Wikipedia:

The Venera 9 to 12 probes were of a different design. They weighed approximately five tons and were launched by the powerful Proton booster. They included a transfer and relay bus that had engines to brake into Venus orbit (Venera 9 and 10, 15 and 16) and to serve as receiver and relay for the entry probe’s transmissions. The entry probe was attached to the top of the bus in a spherical heat shield. The probes were optimized for surface operations with an unusual looking design that included a spherical compartment to protect the electronics from atmospheric pressure and heat for as long as possible. Beneath this was a shock absorbing “crush ring” for landing. Above the pressure sphere was a cylindrical antenna structure and a wide dish shaped structure that resembled an antenna but was actually an aerobrake. They were designed to operate on the surface for a minimum of 30 minutes. Instruments varied on different missions, but included cameras and atmospheric and soil analysis equipment. All four landers had problems with some or all of their camera lens caps not releasing.

The Venera 9 lander operated for at least 53 minutes and took pictures with one of two cameras; the other lens cap did not release.

The Venera 10 lander operated for at least 65 minutes and took pictures with one of two cameras; the other lens cap did not release.

The Venera 11 lander operated for at least 95 minutes but neither camera’s lens cap released.

The Venera 12 lander operated for at least 110 minutes but neither camera’s lens cap released.

[TSBG]

Well, they were tough enough to ALMOST defeat the Six Million Dollar Man.

[Heracles]

I’m guessing the lens cap design team was eventually released.

[AndrewL]

The electronics and other internal working parts were contained in a pressure vessel which was reasonably well insulated against the external temperatures. A refrigeration system of a sort used a material that absorbed heat as it changed phase to keep the internal compartment at a reasonable temperature long enough to take a few photos and radio them back.

[Colophon]

@Heracles

I’m guessing the lens cap design team was eventually released.

It gets better: on Venera 14 both lens caps did release, but unfortunately one of them landed precisely where the soil compression testing probe was supposed to probe. :smack: