Instrument Panel, Balloon, Vega Engineering Model
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 not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
USSR
Type
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Instruments & Payloads
Manufacturer
Lavochkin Scientific Production Association
Dimensions
Approximate: 1.3m, 13cm, 6.9kg (4 ft. 3 3/16 in. × 5 1/8 in., 15.2lb.)
Other: 21kg, 13m (46.3lb., 42 ft. 7 13/16 in.)
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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