Venera 12
Venera 12 model | |
| Operator | Soviet Academy of Sciences |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1978-086A 1978-086C |
| SATCAT no. | 11025 12028 |
| Mission duration | Travel: 3 months and 6 days Lander: 110 minutes |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 4V-1 |
| Bus | 4MV |
| Launch mass | 4,457.9 kg (9,828 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) |
| Dimensions | 2.3 m × 2.7 m × 5.7 m (7.5 ft × 8.9 ft × 18.7 ft) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 September 1978, 02:25:13 UTC |
| Rocket | Proton-K/D-1 8K82K |
| Launch site | Baikonur 81/23 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 18 April 1980 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 6,569 kilometres (4,082 mi) |
| Perigee altitude | 177 kilometres (110 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 205 kilometres (127 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.5° |
| Flyby of Venus | |
| Spacecraft component | Venera 12 flight platform |
| Closest approach | 19 December 1978 |
| Distance | ~35,000 kilometers (22,000 mi) |
| Venus lander | |
| Spacecraft component | Venera 12 descent craft |
| Landing date | 21 December 1978, 03:30 |
| Landing site | 7°S 294°E / 7°S 294°E |
The Venera 12 (Russian: Венера-12 meaning Venus 12) was an uncrewed Soviet space mission designed to explore the planet Venus. Venera 12 was launched on 14 September 1978 at 02:25:13 UTC.
After separating from its flight platform on 19 December 1978, the Venera 12 lander entered the Venus atmosphere two days later at 11.2 kilometres per second (7.0 mi/s). During its descent, the lander employed aerodynamic braking followed by parachute braking, ending with atmospheric braking. After a nearly one-hour descent, a soft landing was made at 06:30 Moscow time (0330 UT) on 21 December. Touchdown speed was 7–8 metres per second (23–26 ft/s); landing coordinates are 7°S 294°E / 7°S 294°E. After touchdown, the lander transmitted data to the flight platform for about 110 minutes until the flight platform, which remained in a heliocentric orbit, moved out of range. Venera 11 and 12 carried identical instruments.