Aerial Platforms for Exploration Under Extreme Conditions in the Venus Atmosphere

This paper explores various aerial platforms for in-situ atmospheric exploration of Venus, emphasizing their potential integration into future missions. Platforms under consideration include fixed-altitude balloons, variable-altitude balloons, aircraft-like vehicles with three-dimensional maneuvering capabilities, and others. Design configurations of descent vehicles and deployment strategies for these platforms in Venus’ atmosphere are discussed. Specific deployment mechanisms for balloons are detailed. The study also models the dynamics of spherical descent vehicles equipped with balloons, analyzing trajectory parameters during different phases. Results confirm the parameters remain within acceptable limits throughout descent.