Abstract

This is a mission to explore the surface of Venus from low altitudes. The Calypso Venus Scout consists of a high-altitude balloon and a instrumented Descent Module (DM). The DM is deployed to an altitude of 10-25 km by means of a Tether where it obtains images, with meter and centimeter scale resolution, and rough IR spectra. It is reeled-in after several hours for a cool down cycle, then deployed again. The balloon remains at high-altitude with no need to be fortified to survive high-T and high-P of Venus' lower atmosphere.

Highlights

  • The overall architecture of the Calypso Scout is highlighted in the artist’s depiction below

  • The anchor balloon stays at high altitude, obviating the need to design a balloon that can survive at a temperature of 350C (700F)

  • In the actual mission the Balloon would be floating above the clouds and haze, but those are eliminated in this illustration for simplicity

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Summary

CALYPSO VENUS SCOUT

The Calypso Venus Scout is a mobile, low-altitude survey and mapping mission. A unique design allows the science payload to view a significant amount of the surface of Venus from an altitude of 10-25 km. The whole purpose of Calypso is to allow cameras to venture below those clouds and get a clear view of the surface This shows the Descent Module (“Bathysphere”) on its tether, skimming over mountainous terrain. The tether is key to the success of the mission It will connect the Gondola with the Descent Module and will provide deployment support, communications and power. For Calypso, the tether will undergo extensive testing in simulated T and P environments that it will encounter in the atmosphere of Venus This lifeline will need to be 40 kilometers in length. Deployment Mechanism The Deployment System consists of a motor-driven storage reel, as well as a winding system for retrieval of the Descent Module This hardware will require a thorough program of testing and validation. The success of the mission depends on this device’s ability to deploy and retrieve the bathysphere numerous times

Examples of Tether Deployment mechanisms
Conclusions
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