Russia is moving forward with plans to revisit Venus, with the ambitious Venera-D interplanetary mission set to begin its formal design phase in early 2026. The mission, now integrated into the country’s newly approved national space program, marks Moscow’s most significant step toward exploring Earth’s “sister planet” in decades.
Oleg Korablev, head of the Department of Planetary Physics at the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, confirmed that work on the draft design will start in January 2026.
The stage is expected to run for about two years and will involve collaboration with Lavochkin Association, a prominent Russian aerospace enterprise. Coordination meetings between IKI scientists and Lavochkin engineers have already begun to align technical and scientific goals.
“The exact launch date will be set once the design is finalized,” Korablev explained, adding that the mission is firmly scheduled to occur within the current planning horizon, and “no later than 2036.”
A Return to Venus Exploration
The Venera-D mission will mark Russia’s return to a planet where it once led global exploration efforts. During the Soviet era, the Venera program made history with the first spacecraft to land on Venus and transmit data from its surface. This new mission aims to revive that legacy with modern technology and expanded scientific goals.
Venera-D’s proposed structure includes three main components:
A lander, designed to touch down on the planet’s surface and transmit data before being overcome by the extreme heat and pressure.
A balloon probe, intended to float in the planet’s thick atmosphere, where conditions are less hostile, to gather detailed atmospheric data.
An orbital spacecraft, which would remain in Venus’ orbit to study the planet from above and act as a communications relay.
This multi-pronged approach reflects Russia’s intent to conduct a comprehensive study of Venus’ hostile environment, where surface temperatures reach around 465°C (869°F) and atmospheric pressure is over 90 times that of Earth.
Lev Zeleny, scientific director at IKI, had earlier suggested that the mission was unlikely to launch before 2034 or 2035, underscoring the scale of technical challenges. The extended timeline gives scientists and engineers time to refine designs capable of withstanding Venus’ extreme conditions.
Global Context of Space Cooperation
Russia’s Venus plans come at a time when international space activity is intensifying. Earlier this month, astronauts from the United States, Japan, and Russia jointly arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s latest rotation mission, Crew-11.
The crew, consisting of NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida and docked successfully after about 15 hours. They joined a multinational team already aboard the ISS, continuing the long-standing cooperation between agencies despite broader geopolitical tensions.
A Strategic Step for Russian Space Ambitions
For Moscow, Venera-D represents more than just planetary science. It is a statement of intent in the global space race, signaling that Russia remains committed to ambitious deep-space exploration. With the United States, Europe, and China all advancing their own planetary missions, a successful Venus mission would reaffirm Russia’s historic role as a pioneer in planetary exploration.
Venus itself has regained scientific attention in recent years after studies suggested the possibility of past habitability and raised questions about unexplained atmospheric chemistry, including the debated detection of phosphine gas. These findings have renewed interest worldwide in sending new missions to the planet long considered too hostile for meaningful exploration.
While challenges remain, Russia’s timetable ensures that Venera-D will be part of this new wave of exploration. If successful, the mission could provide unprecedented insights into Venus’ geology, atmosphere, and climate, contributing to broader scientific understanding of planetary systems and even Earth’s own climate dynamics.
As the 2030s approach, Russia is betting on Venus to showcase both its scientific expertise and its determination to remain a leading force in space exploration.