Venera 5

Venera 5 (in Russian: Венера-5) (manufacturer designation: 2V (V-69)) is a probe from the Soviet Venera space program for the exploration of Venus. Venera 5 was launched with the aim of obtaining atmospheric data on the planet. The probe was very similar to Venera 4 but of a more robust design. On May 16, 1969, as the planet's atmosphere approached, a 405 kg capsule containing scientific instruments was dropped by the main probe. The descent was braked by a parachute and for 53 minutes while the capsule was suspended there, data concerning the atmosphere were transmitted. It landed at 3 ° S, 18 ° E, on the night side. In addition to scientific instruments, she had brought a medallion with the coat of arms of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and a bas-relief of Lenin. The landers of Venera 4, Venera 5 and Venera 6 gave measurements allowing to know the chemical composition of the planet's atmosphere. Knowing that it was very dense, the parachutes had been reduced so that the capsule reached the ground more quickly before it stopped working (as Venera 4 had done).