From: higgins@fnalf.fnal.gov (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Past Venerian landers (was Re: Next  unmanned missions to Venus *)
Date: 25 Jan 93 20:31:00 -0600
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
NNTP-Posting-Host: fnalf.fnal.gov

In article <1993Jan24.063904.27492@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, rkornilo@nyx.cs.du.edu (Ryan Korniloff) writes:
> Hmmm, well, I guess if we were to make any kind of serious exploration of
> Venus's  surface we would have to develop electronics componants that
> operate comforably at 900f. And metals that can protect the inards of the
> probe from terrential sulfuric acid down-poors..
> How WOULD we do that by the way? Anyone know??
 
Someone should point out to Ryan that it's been done, repeatedly. 
From the FAQ (thanks to the invaluable Larry Klaes):

SOVIET VENUS PROBES

    VENERA 3 - Attempt to place a lander capsule on Venusian surface.
	       Transmissions ceased just before encounter and entire probe
	       became the first craft to impact on another planet in 1966.
    VENERA 4 - First probe to successfully return data while descending
	       through Venusian atmosphere. Crushed by air pressure before
	       reaching surface in 1967. VENERA 5 and 6 mission profiles
	       similar in 1969.
    VENERA 7 - First probe to return data from the surface of another planet
	       in 1970. VENERA 8 accomplished a more detailed mission in
	       1972.
    VENERA 9 - Sent first image of Venusian surface in 1975. Was also the
	       first probe to orbit Venus. VENERA 10 accomplished similar
	       mission.
    VENERA 13 - Returned first color images of Venusian surface in 1982.
		VENERA 14 accomplished similar mission.
    VENERA 15 - Accomplished radar mapping with VENERA 16 of sections of
		planet's surface in 1983 more detailed than PVO.
    VEGA 1 - Accomplished with VEGA 2 first balloon probes of Venusian
	     atmosphere in 1985, including two landers. Flyby buses went on
	     to become first spacecraft to study Comet Halley close-up in
	     March of 1986.

US PLANETARY MISSIONS

    PIONEER Venus 1 (1978) (also known as PIONEER Venus Orbiter, or PIONEER
    12) burned up in the Venusian atmosphere on October 8, 1992. PVO made
    the first radar studies of the planet's surface via probe. PIONEER Venus
    2 (also known as PIONEER 13) sent four small probes into the atmosphere
    in December of 1978. The main spacecraft bus burned up high in the
    atmosphere, while the four probes descended by parachute towards the
    surface. Though none were expected to survive to the surface, the Day
    probe did make it and transmitted for 67.5 minutes on the ground before
    its batteries failed.

=========

Mind you, it's not *easy* to keep equipment working on the surface of
Venus, and all these gadgets failed after a short time (like hours). 
But they were successful in learning a lot about conditions there.  In
particular, I believe the Soviets designed their landers with good
insulation and tried to keep them cool for as long as possible.  I
don't think sulfuric acid is a real problem with proper choice of
materials. 

Kepler: "Did you know that Tycho,  | Bill Higgins, Beam Jockey
my boss, had an artificial nose?"  | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory  
Galileo: "An artificial nose!      | Bitnet:           HIGGINS@FNAL.BITNET  
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