Operator | Soviet Academy of Sciences |
---|---|
COSPAR ID | 1978-086A 1978-086C |
SATCAT no. | 11025 12028 |
Mission duration | Travel: 3 months and 6 days Lander: 110 minutes |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | 4V-1 |
Bus | 4MV |
Launch mass | 4,457.9 kg (9,828 lb)[1] |
Dry mass | 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) |
Dimensions | 2.3 m × 2.7 m × 5.7 m (7.5 ft × 8.9 ft × 18.7 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 14 September 1978, 02:25:13 UTC[1] |
Rocket | Proton-K/D-1 8K82K |
Launch site | Baikonur 81/23 |
End of mission | |
Last contact | 18 April 1980[2] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Semi-major axis | 6,569 kilometres (4,082 mi) |
Perigee altitude | 177 kilometres (110 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 205 kilometres (127 mi) |
Inclination | 51.5° |
Flyby of Venus | |
Spacecraft component | Venera 12 flight platform |
Closest approach | 19 December 1978 |
Distance | ~35,000 kilometers (22,000 mi) |
Venus lander | |
Spacecraft component | Venera 12 descent craft |
Landing date | 21 December 1978, 03:30 |
Landing site | 7°S 294°E / 7°S 294°E |
The Venera 12 (Russian: Венера-12 meaning Venus 12) was an uncrewed Soviet space mission designed to explore the planet Venus. Venera 12 was launched on 14 September 1978 at 02:25:13 UTC.[3]
After separating from its flight platform on 19 December 1978, the Venera 12 lander entered the Venus atmosphere two days later at 11.2 kilometres per second (7.0 mi/s). During its descent, the lander employed aerodynamic braking followed by parachute braking, ending with atmospheric braking. After a nearly one-hour descent, a soft landing was made at 06:30 Moscow time (0330 UT) on 21 December. Touchdown speed was 7–8 metres per second (23–26 ft/s); landing coordinates are 7°S 294°E / 7°S 294°E. Continuing for about 110 minutes after touchdown, the lander transmitted data to the flight platform for about 110 minutes until the flight platform, which remained in a heliocentric orbit, moved out of range. Venera 11 and 12 carried identical instruments.[3]