Venera 3

Venera 3
Mission typeVenus atmospheric probe with flyby spacecraft
OperatorOKB-1
COSPAR ID1965-092A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.1733
Mission duration105 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft3MV-3 No.1
ManufacturerLavochkin
Launch mass960 kg (2,120 lb)
Landing mass377 kg (831 lb)
Dimensions4.2 m × 1.1 m (13.8 ft × 3.6 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date16 November 1965, 04:19 (1965-11-16UTC04:19Z) UTC
RocketMolniya M
Launch siteBaikonur 31/6
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHeliocentric
Perihelion altitude0.68 AU
Aphelion altitude0.99 AU
Inclination4.29°
Period277 days
Venus impact (failed landing)
Impact date1 March 1966
Impact site20°N 80°E / 20°N 80°E / 20; 80

Venera 3 (Russian: Венера-3 meaning Venus 3) was a Venera program space probe that was built and launched by the Soviet Union to explore the surface of Venus. It was launched on 16 November 1965 at 04:19 UTC from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, USSR. The probe comprised an entry probe, designed to enter the Venus atmosphere and parachute to the surface, and a carrier/flyby spacecraft,[1][2] which carried the entry probe to Venus and also served as a communications relay for the entry probe.

  1. ^ Wade, Mark. "Venera 3MV-3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Venera 3 (3MV-3 #1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 April 2018.