NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Venera 16

Launch Time
Tue Jun 07, 1983 02:32 UTC

Rocket

Proton-K/Block-DM
RVSN USSR
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 9,195 kN
Payload to LEO: 19,000 kg
Payload to GTO: 2,200 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 56.14 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.9 m
Fairing Height: 8.9 m

Mission Details

Venera 16

Venera 16 (Russian: Венера-16 meaning Venus 16) was a spacecraft sent to Venus by the Soviet Union. This unmanned orbiter was to map the surface of Venus using high resolution imaging systems. The spacecraft was identical to Venera 15 and based on modifications to the earlier Venera space probes.The latest data from the spacecraft were received on June 13, 1985, when it responded to the signal sent from Earth for Vega 1.

The Venera 15 and 16 spacecraft were identical and were based on modifications to the orbiter portions of the Venera 9 and Venera 14 probes. Each spacecraft consisted of a 5 metres (16 ft) long cylinder with a 0.6 m (2.0 ft) diameter, 1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall parabolic dish antenna for the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) at one end. A 1-meter diameter parabolic dish antenna for the radio altimeter was also located at this end. The electrical axis of the radio altimeter antenna was lined up with the axis of the cylinder. The electrical axis of the SAR deviated from the spacecraft axis by 10 degrees. During imaging, the radio altimeter would be lined up with the center of the planet (local vertical) and the SAR would be looking off to the side at 10 degrees. A bulge at the opposite end of the cylinder held fuel tanks and propulsion units. Two square solar arrays extended like wings from the sides of the cylinder. A 2.6 m (8.5 ft) radio dish antenna for communications was also attached to the side of the cylinder. The spacecraft each weighed 4,000 kg.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 5,300.0 kg
Heliocentric Orbit

Location

Site 200/40, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Stats

1983

55th orbital launch attempt

Proton-K

103rd mission
6th mission of 1983
82nd successful mission
6th consecutive successful mission