# Venera 7

> space probe of the Soviet Union which landed on the planet Venus

**Wikidata**: [Q152800](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152800)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venera_7)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/venera-7

## Summary  
Venera 7 was a Soviet‑built space probe and lander that became the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on another planet, touching down on Venus on 15 December 1970 and transmitting data back to Earth.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 17 August 1970 from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.  
- **Landing date:** 15 December 1970 on the surface of Venus (soft landing).  
- **Mass at launch:** 1 180 kg; **mass after landing:** 500 kg.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Molniya‑M rocket.  
- **Operator & manufacturer:** NPO Lavochkin (Soviet Union).  
- **Mission duration:** 120 days from launch to loss of signal after landing.  
- **Orbital parameters (heliocentric):** periapsis 0.69 AU, apoapsis 1.01 AU, inclination 2°, orbital period 287 days.  
- **Program context:** Part of the Venera series; followed Venera 6 and preceded Venera 8.  
- **Significant events:** rocket launch (17 Aug 1970), soft landing on Venus (15 Dec 1970), loss of signal at 06:00 UTC on landing day.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Venera 7’s primary achievement?  
A: Venera 7 was the first spacecraft to perform a soft landing on another planet and to send back scientific data from the surface of Venus.  

### Q: When and where did Venera 7 land?  
A: It landed on Venus on 15 December 1970, achieving a soft touchdown after a 120‑day interplanetary flight.  

### Q: Which organization built and operated Venera 7?  
A: The probe was built and operated by the Soviet design bureau NPO Lavochkin.  

### Q: What launch vehicle delivered Venera 7 to space?  
A: Venera 7 was launched aboard a Molniya‑M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.  

### Q: How long did Venera 7 transmit data after landing?  
A: The lander transmitted data for about 23 minutes before losing signal at 06:00 UTC on the landing day.  

## Why It Matters  
Venera 7 marked a watershed moment in planetary exploration. By achieving the first successful soft landing on another world, it proved that spacecraft could survive the extreme conditions of a planetary surface long enough to collect and relay scientific measurements. The probe transmitted vital data on Venusian atmospheric pressure, temperature, and composition, enriching our understanding of the planet’s hostile environment. This breakthrough demonstrated the feasibility of surface missions to other planets, paving the way for subsequent Venera landers and influencing later missions to Mars, the Moon, and beyond. The engineering solutions developed for Venera 7—such as robust thermal protection, autonomous descent control, and high‑temperature electronics—remain foundational in modern planetary lander design. Its success cemented the Soviet Union’s reputation as a pioneering space power during the Cold War era and contributed to the broader scientific narrative of comparative planetology.

## Notable For  
- First spacecraft to achieve a **soft landing on another planet** (Venus).  
- First probe to **transmit surface data** from Venus, including temperature and pressure readings.  
- Part of the historic **Venera program**, bridging the gap between early flyby missions and later, more sophisticated landers.  
- Utilized a **Molniya‑M launch vehicle**, showcasing the Soviet Union’s heavy‑lift capabilities.  
- Demonstrated **autonomous descent and landing** technology under extreme atmospheric conditions.

## Body  

### Overview  
Venera 7 was a Soviet space probe and lander designed to study Venus. It belonged to the Venera series, a sequence of missions aimed at exploring the planet’s atmosphere and surface.

### Mission Timeline  
- **17 Aug 1970:** Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 aboard a Molniya‑M rocket.  
- **Transit:** 120‑day heliocentric cruise with periapsis 0.69 AU and apoapsis 1.01 AU.  
- **15 Dec 1970:** Soft landing on Venus; began transmitting data.  
- **15 Dec 1970, 06:00 UTC:** Loss of signal after ~23 minutes of transmission.

### Spacecraft Design  
- **Mass:** 1 180 kg at takeoff; 500 kg after landing.  
- **Structure:** Built to survive Venus’s high temperature and pressure; incorporated a pressure‑resistant capsule.  
- **Instruments:** Sensors for atmospheric pressure, temperature, and composition; radio transmitter for data relay.  

### Launch Vehicle  
- **Molniya‑M:** A Soviet medium‑to‑heavy lift rocket capable of delivering interplanetary payloads.  
- **Launch site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan (Site 31).  

### Scientific Achievements  
- Provided the first **direct measurements** of Venusian surface conditions.  
- Confirmed surface temperature around **475 °C** and pressure near **90 atm**.  
- Demonstrated that a lander could survive, albeit briefly, the harsh Venusian environment.  

### Legacy and Influence  
- Informed the design of later Venera landers (Venera 8–14).  
- Established engineering practices for high‑temperature electronics and autonomous landing sequences.  
- Contributed to comparative planetology, influencing models of terrestrial planet evolution.  

## Schema Markup  
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  "name": "Venera 7",
  "description": "Soviet space probe that achieved the first successful soft landing on Venus and transmitted surface data in 1970.",
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013