Why Venus matters for planetary science
The planet most often called Earth’s “evil twin” sits closer to the Sun and endures extreme heat, crushing atmospheric pressure, and a dense, sulfuric haze. Studying Venus helps scientists understand why a world so similar in size and composition evolved into a scorching, waterless environment. With Akatsuki now quiet, space agencies are eyeing a new generation of missions that could revisit Venus with fresh instruments, long-duration data collection, and advanced radar and atmospheric probes. The coming decade could redefine our knowledge of Venus, its climate history, and how volcanic resurfacing and atmospheric chemistry shaped its fate.
The five mission concepts in play
Several international teams are proposing missions that could launch within the next ten years. Here are five contenders, spanning NASA, the European Space Agency, and international collaborations. Each aims to shed light on Venus’ atmosphere, surface, interior, and hidden history.
1) VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography Satellite) — NASA
VERITAS focuses on mapping Venus’ surface with high-resolution radar to reveal its geologic history and current tectonics. By combining radar topography with gravity measurements and atmospheric data, VERITAS could answer questions about volcanic activity, crustal evolution, and whether Venus experienced plate tectonics in its past. The mission would complement radar-backed surface maps with atmospheric observations to connect surface processes to atmospheric chemistry.
2) DAVINCI+ (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble Gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) — NASA
DAVINCI+ aims to descend through Venus’ thick atmosphere to sample its noblegas content and trace gases, helping scientists understand ancient Venusian climate and the planet’s carbon cycle. A descent probe could capture high-precision atmospheric measurements, while an accompanying orbiter provides global context. DAVINCI+ would directly address how Venus diverged from Earth’s habitability and whether its atmosphere preserves clues to a warm, wet early era.
3) EnVision — ESA (with NASA collaboration)
EnVision would be a dense, Venus-focused orbiter equipped with high-resolution synthetic aperture radar, infrared imaging, and spectrometers. Its goal is to create a comprehensive, global map of Venus’ geologic history, surface composition, and volcanic activity. A radar and optical payload would help detect past water-related processes and quantify current surface dynamics, offering a long-baseline dataset for climate and interior models.
4) JAXA’s Next Venus Orbiter — A Japan-led follow-up to Akatsuki
Learning from Akatsuki’s challenges, a new JAXA-led Venus orbiter could carry revised instruments and a robust communications plan. This mission would emphasize atmospheric dynamics, cloud chemistry, and solar wind interactions with Venus’ ionosphere. By surviving in the harsh environment with improved reliability, the spacecraft could provide continuous monitoring of cloud patterns and upper-atmosphere processes critical to understanding Venus’ climate engine.
5) International VenusClimate/Transit Mission — Cross-agency collaboration
Another promising path is a joint international project combining radar, spectrometry, and atmospheric sampling, aiming to investigate Venus’ cloud layers, atmospheric circulation, and potential recent resurfacing events. Such a mission might include instruments from multiple space agencies, leveraging shared data protocols and coordinated halfway points to maximize science return. The emphasis would be on climate history, volcanic activity, and potential feedback mechanisms that shaped Venus’ current state.
What makes these missions exciting now?
Despite the loss of contact with Akatsuki, the field has not stalled. Over the last decade, mission designs have become more capable, smaller, and more resilient in extreme environments. The Venus atmosphere is a natural laboratory for studying greenhouse effects, atmospheric chemistry under high pressure, and volcanic processes in a world where water may have once played a crucial role. If even a subset of these five mission concepts proceeds, scientists could collect a wealth of data enabling comparisons with Earth and clues about how planetary atmospheres evolve under intense solar heating.
What to expect in the coming years
As agencies finalize science goals, instrument payloads, and launch opportunities, timelines will hinge on funding, technology readiness, and international partnerships. A successful Venus mission would likely involve shared data access, remote-sensing campaigns, and long-term monitoring. Researchers anticipate the first results to emerge within a few years of launch, with full science returns unfolding over a decade as surface maps, atmospheric profiles, and compositional data accumulate.
Conclusion
Venus remains one of the solar system’s most intriguing puzzles. With five mission concepts potentially launching in the next decade, scientists are optimistic that we could soon unlock Venus’ climate history, surface processes, and atmospheric chemistry in ways that illuminate Earth’s place in the solar family. The coming years promise a new era of exploration that moves beyond Akatsuki’s legacy to a richer, multi-mission assault on our mysterious neighbor.
