Venus, Earth’s so-called twin, has long fascinated scientists due to its similar size and rocky composition. However, its extreme conditions make it one of the most hostile places in the solar system. Unlike Mars, which has been extensively explored, Venus remains largely mysterious. The reason? The planet’s thick, toxic atmosphere and blistering heat destroy spacecraft in mere minutes.

The Soviet Union was the only nation to successfully land probes on Venus. Between 1970 and 1984, the Venera program sent several missions, capturing the only surface images of the planet. Venera 9, Venera 10, Venera 13, and Venera 14 provided black-and-white and colorized images of a barren, rocky landscape. These remain the only direct visual records of Venus’s surface. The longest-lasting lander, Venera 13, survived just 127 minutes before succumbing to the planet’s extreme conditions.

Why Venus Is So Hostile

Venus’s atmosphere is over 96% carbon dioxide, with an air pressure more than 75 times that of Earth. The planet experiences a runaway greenhouse effect, where heat is trapped and unable to escape. Surface temperatures reach up to 900°F (482°C), hot enough to melt lead. Additionally, Venus’s thick clouds of sulfuric acid prevent visible-light observations from space, making surface imaging impossible without a lander.