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Vega 2

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description Vega 2 Overview

Vega 2 was an unmanned Soviet space probe launched in December 1984 as part of the Venera-Halley program. The mission successfully deployed a descent lander and an instrumented balloon into the atmosphere of Venus in June 1985 before using a gravity assist to fly past and photograph Halley's Comet in March 1986. It operated alongside its twin spacecraft, Vega 1, to provide scientific data on both Venus and the comet.

help Vega 2 FAQ

What planet did the Vega 2 probe explore before flying past Halley's Comet?

Vega 2 successfully deployed a descent lander and an instrumented balloon into the atmosphere of Venus in June 1985. After dropping the lander, the main spacecraft used a gravity assist from Venus to continue toward Halley's Comet.

When was the Vega 2 space probe launched?

Vega 2 was an unmanned Soviet space probe launched in December 1984. It was launched just a few days after its sister probe, Vega 1, as part of the Venera-Halley program.

What did the Vega 2 mission discover about Halley's Comet?

In March 1986, Vega 2 used a gravity assist to fly past Halley's Comet and photograph its nucleus. The mission sent back close-up images and data on the comet's dust and gas composition.

What was the balloon experiment on the Vega 2 mission?

Vega 2 deployed an instrumented balloon into the atmosphere of Venus that floated at an altitude of about 54 kilometers. The balloon tracked high-speed winds in the Venusian atmosphere for over 46 hours before its batteries died.

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