Calypso Venus Scout

TL;DR

The Calypso Venus Scout mission employs a high-altitude balloon and a deployable descent module to explore Venus's surface, capturing high-resolution images and spectra while avoiding the harsh lower atmosphere conditions.

Contribution

This paper introduces a novel mission design combining a high-altitude balloon with a deployable descent module for Venus surface exploration.

Findings

Successful deployment of the descent module at 10-25 km altitude

High-resolution imaging and IR spectra obtained from the descent module

Reusable deployment cycle demonstrated for extended surface exploration

Abstract

This is a mission to explore the surface of Venus from low altitudes. The Calypso Venus Scout consists of a high-altitude balloon and a instrumented Descent Module (DM). The DM is deployed to an altitude of 10-25 km by means of a Tether where it obtains images, with meter and centimeter scale resolution, and rough IR spectra. It is reeled-in after several hours for a "cool down" cycle, then deployed again. The balloon remains at high-altitude with no need to be fortified to survive high-T and high-P of Venus' lower atmosphere.