- Venera 6
Infobox_Spacecraft
Name = Venera 6
Caption = Venera-6
Organization =USSR
Major_Contractors =
Mission_Type = Lander
Satellite_Of =Venus
Orbital_Insertion_Date = Landed onMay 17 ,1969
Launch =January 10 1969
Launch_Vehicle = TyazheliySputnik
Decay =
Mission_Duration =January 10 1969 toMay 17 ,1969
NSSDC_ID = 1969-002A
Webpage =
Mass = 1130 kg
Power =
Orbital_elements =
Semimajor_Axis =
Eccentricity =
Inclination =
Orbital_Period =
Apoapsis =
Periapsis =
Orbits =Venera 6 (Russian:Венера-6) was a Soviet
spacecraft , launched from a TyazheliySputnik (69-002C) onJanuary 10 1969 towards Venus to obtain atmospheric data. It had an on-orbit dry mass of 1130 kg.The spacecraft was very similar to
Venera 4 although it was of a stronger design. When the atmosphere of Venus was approached, a capsule weighing 405 kg was jettisoned from the main spacecraft. This capsule contained scientific instruments.During descent towards the surface of Venus, a parachute opened to slow the rate of descent. For 51 min on
May 17 ,1969 , while the capsule was suspended from the parachute, data from the Venusian atmosphere were returned. It landed at Venus coords and quad cat|5|S|23|E.The spacecraft also carried a medallion bearing the State Coat of Arms of the U.S.S.R. and a bas-relief of
V.I. Lenin to the night side of Venus.Given the results from Venera 4, the
Venera 5 and Venera 6 landers contained new chemical analysis experiments tuned to provide more precise measurements of the atmosphere's components. Knowing the atmosphere was extremely dense, the parachutes were also made smaller so the capsule would reach its full crush depth before running out of power (as Venera-4 had done).
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