Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows. Chevron right
Recovery teams, displaced residents in Texas face brutal heat. Chevron right

Columbus, OH

71°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

71°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Astronomy

NASA will launch first U.S. missions to Venus since 1989

By Paul Brinkmann, UPI

Updated Jun 3, 2021 6:45 PM EDT

Copied

Partner Content

UPI

For the first time in decades, Venus will get visitors as NASA plans two new missions that will send two robots to the planet to study its atmospheric composition, its topography and its evolution.

June 2 (UPI) -- NASA plans to send two new spacecraft to study Venus as the first U.S. missions to the Earth-sized planet since 1989, agency administrator Bill Nelson said Wednesday.

The missions, known as DAVINCI+ and Veritas, would use sensors to analyze the searing hot atmosphere in an attempt to determine how it evolved, and to map the rugged surface.

"Both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno capable of melting lead at the surface," Nelson said during the annual State of NASA address in Washington D.C.

"They will offer the entire science community the chance to investigate a planet we haven't been to in more than 30 years."

An illustration shows a NASA spacecraft nearing Venus. Image courtesy of NASA

NASA estimates each mission will launch during a three-year span starting in 2028. Each is estimated to cost $500 million.

The DAVINCI+ spacecraft would parachute into the hot atmosphere and possibly help scientists learn if Venus ever had oceans.

To survive the nearly hourlong descent, the probe would be encapsulated in a sphere to shield the sensors.

DAVINCI+ would provide "a complete cross section of Venus' atmosphere at a level of detail that has not been possible on earlier missions,'' according to NASA's description of the mission.

The name is an acronym for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry and Imaging Plus.

VERITAS would be an orbiter that would map Venus' surface to determine the planet's geologic history and help scientists to understand why Venus developed so differently than Earth.

The spacecraft would chart surface elevations over nearly the entire planet to confirm whether it has plate tectonics and volcanic activity, according to NASA.

VERITAS stands for Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy.

Report a Typo
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.
Comments
Hide Comments

Weather News

Weather News

A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows

Jul. 10, 2025
Severe Weather

Rounds of severe storms to rattle, drench central US

Jul. 11, 2025
video

Abandoned cars submerged by severe flooding in North Carolina

Jul. 10, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Texas Hill Country recovery, cleanup teams to face brutal July weather

43 minutes ago

Weather News

State inspection before floods found Camp Mystic had emergency plan

22 hours ago

Weather News

Deadly flash flooding devastates wildfire-scarred New Mexico town

10 hours ago

Astronomy

1st full moon of summer to rise Thursday night

1 day ago

Weather News

Most Texas flood victims face devastation without flood insurance

20 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Health

How can families handle new anxieties around summer camp?

16 hours ago

AccuWeather Ready

Floodwater rising in your house? Do this

2 days ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

16 hours ago

Weather News

Earthquake swarm detected at Mount Rainier, biggest since 2009

21 hours ago

Weather News

The US has a plan to breed millions of flies and drop them from planes

16 hours ago

AccuWeather Astronomy NASA will launch first U.S. missions to Venus since 1989
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...