Venus Dynamics Tracer - exploring Venus with balloons

Venus Dynamics Tracer (VdT) is a proposal for a multi-balloon mission to Venus that was submitted as a response to the ESA call for new M-class missions. This presentation discusses the science questions that could be addressed using two balloons at different altitudes in Venus atmosphere together with an orbiter. The main goal of VdT is to reveal how the atmospheric motion in the Venus atmosphere is driven by the energy originating from absorption of solar radiation. VdT achieves this by in situ measurements in two major regions where driving “motors” are located: Firstly, the cloud layer where visible light is absorbed and drives the vertical motions of the air. Secondly, the upper atmosphere where EUV is absorbed both by neutrals and ions and where energy and momentum are transferred between them. VdT combines the in situ measurements by two balloons at different altitudes in the atmosphere with in situ and remote sensing observations from an orbiter. The mission aims to answer the following questions: 1. What are the roles of the vertical and meridional circulation in maintaining major atmospheric dynamics near the clouds, including the superrotation? and 2. What is the global dynamics of ions and neutrals in the upper atmosphere?

VdT has only 50 kg scientific payload but enables break-through science by a unique distribution of the payload: 40 kg on an orbiter and 5 kg each on two atmospheric balloons. The presentation describes and motivates the suggested payload.