EnVision

For other uses, see Envision.

EnVision
Mission typeVenus orbiter
OperatorEuropean Space Agency
Websiteenvisionvenus.eu
Mission durationPlanned:
4.5 years
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass2,607 kg (5,747 lb)
Dry mass1,277 kg (2,815 lb)
Payload mass255 kg (562 lb)
Power2.35 kilowatts
Start of mission
Launch datePlanned:
2031[1]
RocketAriane 62[2][3]
Launch siteKourou ELA-4
ContractorArianespace
Venus orbiter
Orbital insertion2034 [4]
Orbital parameters
Pericytherion altitude220 km
Apocytherion altitude470 km
Transponders
BandX-band, Ka-band[3]
← ARIEL

EnVision is an orbital mission to Venus being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) that is planned to perform high-resolution radar mapping and atmospheric studies.[5][3] EnVision is designed to help scientists understand the relationships between its geological activity and the atmosphere, and it would investigate why Venus and Earth took such different evolutionary paths. The probe was selected as the fifth medium mission (M5) of ESA's Cosmic Vision programme in June 2021,[4] with launch planned for 2031.[1] The mission will be conducted in collaboration with NASA, with the potential sharing of responsibilities currently under assessment.

Animation of EnVision's proposed trajectory from 15 June 2032 to 01 March 2034
   EnVision ·   Earth ·   Venus ·   Sun
Animation of EnVision's proposed trajectory during the aerobraking phase around Venus
  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference envision-selected was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference LPSC 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference proposal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bbc-20210610 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference M4_Finalists was invoked but never defined (see the help page).