The two balloon aerobots for the Vega mission were designed to float at 54 km (34 mi) from the surface, in the most active layer of the Venusian cloud system. The instrument pack had enough battery power for 60 hours of operation and measured temperature, pressure, wind speed, and aerosol density. The balloon envelopes were surfaced with polytetrafluoroethylene to resist attack by the corrosive atmosphere. Both Vega-1 and Vega-2 balloons operated for more than 46 hours from injection to the final transmission

 Display Status

This object is on display in Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar
Object Details
Country of Origin USSR Type SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Instruments & Payloads Manufacturer Lavochkin Scientific Production Association
 Dimensions 3-D (L x W x H): 149.9 × 50.8cm, 18.6kg (4 ft. 11 in. × 1 ft. 8 in., 41lb.)
 Materials Steel, aluminum, plastic, nylon ribbon, fiberglass, paracord
 Inventory Number A19960108007 Credit Line Gift of H. Buckner Hightower and Gregory W. Schnurr. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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