Why Venus deserves another look
Earth’s scorching sister world has long teased scientists with clues about why a planet can diverge so radically from its neighbor. Venus, often called Earth’s “evil twin,” hides its conditions behind thick clouds of sulfuric acid and extreme heat. After Akatsuki’s long struggle to regain contact, space agencies are renewing their efforts to send new explorers to the planet. The coming decade could feature a slate of missions designed to map Venus’ surface, atmosphere, and interior with fresh precision, helping researchers understand planetary formation, climate evolution, and why Venus diverged so dramatically from Earth.
Researchers see Venus as a natural laboratory for planetary science. Studying its crust, geologic activity, and atmospheric chemistry can illuminate how runaway greenhouse effects happen and how atmospheric loss shapes a planet’s habitability. Here are five missions under consideration or development that could launch over the next ten years, funded by major space agencies around the world.
1) VERITAS — a radar map of Venus’ surface and interior
NASA’s VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy) mission aims to peer beneath Venus’ perpetual cloud cover using synthetic aperture radar and other instruments. By creating high-resolution topographic maps, VERITAS would help scientists determine whether Venus remains geologically active, how its crust and mantle have evolved, and why its surface looks so dramatically different from Earth’s. If launched on schedule, VERITAS could yield a new geologic timeline for Venus and inform models of early solar system evolution.
2) EnVision — a European effort to image the atmosphere and surface
ESA’s EnVision proposal focuses on global high-resolution imaging, atmospheric profiling, and radar crustal measurements. Its design prioritizes three questions: How does Venus’ atmosphere move and transport heat? What is Venus’ surface made of, and how has it changed over time? EnVision would integrate remote sensing with in-situ sampling plans to build a cohesive view of Venus as a geologic and atmospheric system. If selected and funded, EnVision would complement NASA’s VERITAS by filling gaps in the Venusian science puzzle.
3) JAXA’s post-Akatsuki Venus orbiter concept
Japan’s Akatsuki continues to operate in a limited fashion, and JAXA researchers have floated ideas for a follow-up mission to Venus. A new orbiter concept would likely carry a suite of remote-sensing instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and perhaps a radar to penetrate clouds. A successor mission would aim to maintain a continuous stream of Venus observations, building on Akatsuki’s legacy and providing crucial long-term data for atmospheric dynamics and cloud chemistry.
4) Shukrayaan-1 — India’s bold look at Venus
India has signaled interest in a Venus mission, with Shukrayaan-1 proposed as a dedicated orbiter to study Venus’ atmosphere, surface composition, and potential volcanic activity. If approved, it would bring India into the growing coalition of nations studying Venus, sharing sensor technology and science goals with international partners. A successful Shukrayaan-1 would expand the global data set and foster broader collaboration in planetary science.
5) A multi-agency Venus mission cluster
Beyond individual missions, several collaborations are being explored to tackle Venus science from multiple angles. A clustering of orbiters and landers—potentially involving NASA, ESA, JAXA, and others—could coordinate observations to maximize coverage of Venus’ atmosphere and surface. Such a multi-mission, multi-year program would enable cross-instrument synergy, enabling scientists to test climate models and atmospheric chemistry with unprecedented accuracy.
What this means for Venus research
The next decade could redefine our understanding of Venus and, by extension, terrestrial planets in general. By combining high-resolution surface mapping, atmospheric profiling, and long-term monitoring, scientists hope to answer lingering questions: Why did Venus lose oceans and drive a runaway greenhouse effect? How does its interior influence its volcanoes and tectonics? And what can Venus teach us about Earth’s own climate history?
Keeping the excitement alive
As agencies finalize mission concepts and funding plans, the Venus program underscores a broader trend in planetary science: ambitious, multi-movernment efforts to explore our neighboring world. The loss of contact with Akatsuki was a setback, but it also spurred renewed investment in robust, redundant mission designs and international cooperation that could finally unlock the secrets of Earth’s twin.
