5VK
Vega solar system probe bus and landing apparatus (model) - Udvar-Hazy Center
ManufacturerOKB-1
Country of originSoviet Union
OperatorSoviet Space Program
← 4MV

The 5VK planetary probe (short for 5th-generation Venus-Comet probe) is a designation for a common design used for Soviet unmanned probes to comet 1P/Halley and Venus.[1][2][3]

It was an incremental improvement of earlier 4MV probes used for Mars and Venus missions.

Design

The craft was three-axis stabilized[4] and powered by twin large solar panels, weighing 4,920 kg (10,850 lb). They were equipped with a dual bumper shield for dust protection from Halley's comet. Instruments included an antenna dish, cameras, spectrometer, infrared sounder, magnetometers, and plasma probes.[5][4]

Variants

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 5VK.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Vega 5VK". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016.
  2. ^ Erickson, Lance K. (October 2, 2010). Space Flight: History, Technology, and Operations. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780865874190 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c "Vega 1, 2 (5VK #1, 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  4. ^ a b "VEGA Mission". arc.iki.rssi.ru.
  5. ^ "SBN Mission Support: Vega 1". pdssbn.astro.umd.edu.
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