High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC): An Exploration Strategy for Venus

Abstract

Humans are on their way to becoming a spacefaring civilization, and Venus presents an intriguing destination for expanding humanity’s journey beyond Earth. The atmosphere of Venus is a suitable environment for both further scientific study and future human exploration. Fifty kilometers above the Venusian surface is one of the most hospitable, Earthlike locations in the Solar System; the pressure, density, gravity, and radiation protection are all similar to Earth surface conditions. A recent internal NASA study of a High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC) led to the development of an evolutionary program for the exploration of Venus, with a focus on the mission architecture and vehicle concepts for robotic missions and 30-day crewed missions into the Venusian atmosphere. Initial analysis has shown that both robotic and human exploration of the Venusian atmosphere is feasible contingent on the development of key capabilities: human-scale aeroentry vehicles, high dynamic pressure supersonic decelerators, long-duration cryogenic storage, Venus and Earth aerocapture, and rapid airship inflation (during the descent). Many of these capabilities are complementary to previously and currently considered Mars architectures, and their development would be enabling to voyages to either planet. Ultimately, with its relatively hospitable upper atmosphere, Venus can play a role in humanity’s future in space.