NASA mulls planetary missions to study Venus after 'phosphine' discovery

After discovery of clouds made of Phosphine, Scientists at National Aeronautics and Administration are considering to launch at least two planetary missions for Venus to study its atmosphere and determine wher a human life would be possible on planet. flammable gas phosphine detected on Venus that annihilates life-forms on Earth has yielded signs of extraterrestrial life, as over 20 parts per billion of phosphine on planet indicated that a lifeform such as microbes were creating it. In a research published in Nature Astromy journal, scientists ted that any traces of phosphorus on planet shall be in oxidized form, but discovery of rare, toxic chemical in Venus’ clouds suggested some kind of very robust organism produced it.

[Phosphine, which is a biomarker on Earth, is made up of phosphorus and hydrogen. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser/L. Calçada & NASA/JPL/Caltech]

[Signs of phosphine first showed up in data taken with James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii. Will Montgomerie/JCMT/EAO/NASA]

On September 16, NASA’s international research team proposed four missions w under review by panel, that asked for robotic probes on Venusian atmosphere. team submitted DAVINCI+ proposal that suggests that ncy must research Venus for habitable dirigibles. Christopher Jones of NASA’s Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate described Venus as an exciting destination for both furr scientific study and future human exploration in a  summary document on NASA’s official site. Repeatedly, he had insisted that NASA must launch a multi-phase campaign to explore and potentially settle Venus where ground temperatures were previously detected to be 800 degrees Fahrenheit. After recent discovery of phosphine on planet Venus, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a release that it was apt timing to prioritize Venus. 

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Discovery Program investigations 

While re are official missions to Venus yet, NASA has selected se Discovery Program investigations and proposed missions by scientists that comprise of four nine-month studies that will receive $3 million funding by ncy. On approval, NASA will continue development of up to two missions towards flight. mission (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of ble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus) DAVINCI+ would analyze Venus’ atmosphere to understand how it formed, evolved, and determine wher Venus ever had an ocean.

“ “+” in DAVINCI+ refers to imaging component of mission, which includes cameras on descent sphere and orbiter designed to map surface rock-type,” NASA explained in an official press release.

“ results from DAVINCI+ have potential to reshape our understanding of terrestrial planet formation in our solar system and beyond,” it added.  

mission would be headed by NASA's Goddard Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, principal investigator James Garvin. NASA had earlier launched a project called High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC) for manned Mars mission, however, teams at NASA had proposed a manned mission to Venus instead, that “is shorter and avoids complications of landing on a planet and launching from it for a return flight,” according to NASA researchers. 

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