Europe will go it alone on Venus mission after NASA yanks radar instrument
Summary
The European Space Agency (ESA) is continuing work on its Venus mission, Envision, after NASA decided it would not provide a radar instrument as initially planned. ESA is now developing a European radar system to replace the U.S. contribution and expects to carry out the same science goals.Key Facts
- Envision is a robotic spacecraft designed to map the surface of Venus using radar, which can see through Venus’s thick clouds.
- NASA agreed in 2024 to supply a synthetic aperture radar instrument and communication support for Envision.
- ESA is responsible for building the spacecraft, other scientific instruments, and the launch on an Ariane 6 rocket.
- Due to NASA budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration, NASA is withdrawing support for some international science missions, including Envision’s radar instrument.
- ESA has started contracts with teams in the UK and Italy to develop a European radar to replace NASA’s instrument.
- NASA had already spent over $50 million on Envision work before the withdrawal decision.
- The Envision mission aims to launch around 2031 and will study Venus’s surface, searching for active volcanism.
- NASA’s budget issues also affect other international missions like LISA (gravitational wave observatory) and New Athena (X-ray telescope).
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