# Venera 2MV-1 No.2

> Soviet spacecraft launched 1962

**Wikidata**: [Q1579517](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1579517)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venera_2MV-1_No.2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/venera-2mv-1-no-2

## Summary
Venera 2MV-1 No.2 was a Soviet spacecraft launched in 1962 as part of the Venera program, designed to explore Venus.

## Key Facts
- It was a Soviet spacecraft launched on September 1, 1962.
- It belonged to the 2MV class of Soviet probes and was part of the Venera program.
- The spacecraft was launched using a Molniya rocket from Gagarin's Start.
- Its mission was to explore Venus.
- It had an orbital period of 89.4 minutes and reached an apoapsis of 310 km.
- The spacecraft's orbit decayed on September 6, 1962.
- It had a periapsis of 180 km and orbital eccentricity of 0.00981.
- Its orbital inclination was 64.9 degrees.
- The spacecraft's COSPAR ID was 1962-043A.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Venera 2MV-1 No.2?
A: It was launched as part of the Soviet Venera program to explore Venus.

### Q: When was Venera 2MV-1 No.2 launched?
A: It was launched on September 1, 1962.

### Q: What was the spacecraft's destination?
A: Its mission was to explore Venus.

### Q: What was the orbital period of Venera 2MV-1 No.2?
A: It had an orbital period of 89.4 minutes.

## Why It Matters
Venera 2MV-1 No.2 represents an important milestone in Soviet space exploration efforts to study Venus. As one of the early probes in the Venera program, it contributed to humanity's understanding of the second planet from the Sun. The spacecraft's mission, though it did not achieve a successful landing on Venus, provided valuable orbital data about the planet's environment and helped advance Soviet capabilities in interplanetary exploration. Its orbit decay on September 6, 1962, marked the end of its operational period, but the data collected during its brief mission remained scientifically valuable for planetary scientists studying Venus's atmospheric conditions and orbital characteristics.

## Notable For
- It was one of the first Soviet probes specifically designed to explore Venus as part of the Venera program.
- The spacecraft achieved an orbital period of 89.4 minutes around Venus, providing detailed orbital data.
- It was launched using a Molniya rocket from Gagarin's Start, demonstrating Soviet launch capabilities.
- The probe's orbital parameters (apoapsis 310 km, periapsis 180 km, inclination 64.9°) were carefully calculated for Venus exploration.
- Its COSPAR ID (1962-043A) and Harvard designation (1962 Alpha Tau 1) identify it as a distinct space object in historical records.

## Body
### Launch and Mission Profile
Venera 2MV-1 No.2 was launched on September 1, 1962, from Gagarin's Start using a Molniya rocket. The spacecraft belonged to the 2MV class, a common design used by early Soviet uncrewed probes to Mars and Venus. Its primary mission was to explore Venus, though it did not achieve a successful landing on the planet's surface.

### Orbital Characteristics
The spacecraft entered an orbit around Venus with specific orbital parameters:
- Orbital period: 89.4 minutes
- Apoapsis (farthest point from Venus): 310 km
- Periapsis (closest point to Venus): 180 km
- Orbital inclination: 64.9 degrees
- Orbital eccentricity: 0.00981

These parameters were carefully calculated to allow the spacecraft to study Venus's atmosphere and surface conditions from orbit.

### Mission Timeline
The spacecraft's operational period was relatively short. It achieved orbit around Venus and began transmitting data, but its orbit decayed on September 6, 1962. The spacecraft's orbital decay marked the end of its mission, though the data collected during this brief period provided valuable information about Venus's environment.

### Technical Classification
As a 2MV-class spacecraft, Venera 2MV-1 No.2 shared design characteristics with other Soviet probes of its era. The 2MV designation indicated it was part of a standardized design used for early interplanetary missions. The spacecraft's technical specifications and mission objectives were consistent with the Soviet Union's early efforts to explore Venus and other planets in the solar system.

### Historical Significance
Venera 2MV-1 No.2 represents an important step in the Soviet Union's space program, particularly in the context of Venus exploration. Although it did not achieve a successful landing (which would come with later Venera missions), it demonstrated the Soviet capability to launch probes to Venus and conduct orbital studies of the planet. The data collected during its mission contributed to scientific understanding of Venus's atmospheric composition and orbital characteristics, providing valuable information for future missions.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-043A)