Space exploration often focuses on Mars, but Venus, our closest neighbor, holds many mysteries. Its surface is a true hell, but its atmosphere, at a certain altitude, offers more temperate conditions. A daring mission, the "EVE" project, proposes to explore Venus using an autonomous balloon capable of producing its own lifting gas and energy, paving the way for unlimited exploration.
The challenges of Venusian exploration
Several missions have already explored Venus, notably the Soviet Venera probes. However, their lifespan was limited by extreme conditions: temperatures exceeding 450°C (842°F) and crushing atmospheric pressure. The use of stratospheric balloons, as in the Soviet Vega missions, offers an alternative for studying the upper atmosphere. But gas loss and energy supply remain obstacles.
Venus's corrosive atmosphere, laden with sulfuric acid, also poses a challenge for equipment. These constraints have so far limited the duration of Venusian missions. The EVE project proposes an innovative solution to overcome these difficulties and enable prolonged exploration of Venus. The MIT team envisions using resistant coatings, such as Teflon, to protect components.
An innovative solution: the EVE project
The EVE project (Exploring Venus with Electrolysis) proposes an innovative approach. Inspired by the MOXIE experiment on Mars, which produced oxygen from Martian CO2, EVE would use solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) to extract oxygen and carbon monoxide (CO) from Venusian CO2, abundant in the atmosphere.
This process, already tested on Mars, involves splitting carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon monoxide. This technology could be adapted to function in Venus's atmosphere, offering a potential source of lifting gas and energy.
The energy efficiency of the SOE process must be optimized to achieve a CO2 to O2 and CO conversion efficiency of 75%, sufficient to maintain buoyancy and power supply.
An autonomous and durable balloon
The oxygen produced by EVE could replace the balloon's initial gas, ensuring constant buoyancy. Additionally, a fraction of the CO and oxygen could be used to generate electricity during Venusian nights, providing a renewable energy source. The balloon would thus become autonomous, capable of operating indefinitely.
This energy autonomy and the ability to maintain buoyancy would allow the EVE balloon to conduct long-duration exploration missions. It could study Venus's atmosphere, meteorology, and chemistry, opening new perspectives on this planet.
Multiple advantages
Venus's dense atmosphere facilitates the implementation of the SOE process: a simple fan would suffice, unlike the complex pumps required on Mars. Moreover, the proximity to the Sun would guarantee abundant solar energy during the day. EVE could serve as a basis for other missions, such as atmospheric drones, and could even be adapted to other planets or moons, like Titan.
These potential advantages make the EVE project a promising solution for Venus exploration. Its ability to produce its own gas and energy grants it autonomy that could allow us to take a new approach to this planet.
Towards a new era of Venusian exploration
The EVE project represents a major advancement in Venus exploration. This autonomous and durable balloon could enhance our understanding of this mysterious planet and pave the way for new discoveries about rocky planets.
The exploration of Venus, long neglected in favor of Mars, could experience a new surge thanks to this ambitious project. The EVE balloon, with its ability to produce its own gas and energy, could become a valuable tool for uncovering the secrets of our closest neighbor.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND