The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a new mission to the planet Venus. The space agency will launch a probe into orbit after 2030 to investigate connections between the atmosphere and geology.
EnVision, as the probe will be called, will be launched sometime in the early 1930s. “The study should show why Earth and Venus are so different and why,” the ESA writes.
Venus is the closest planet to Earth at 40 million kilometers and is about the same size. Researchers wonder why Venus no longer resembles Earth. Venus is very warm because of a thick atmosphere made up almost entirely of carbon dioxide.
The probe will be equipped with instruments that should provide more insight into the composition of the core and atmosphere of Venus.
NASA also recently announced new missions to Venus. Between 2028 and 2030, two NASA missions will be sent to the planet for the first time in decades. Similar to the ESA mission, the atmosphere and geological history of Venus are studied.