Europe Presses Ahead with Venus Mission After NASA Pulls Out
By Editor • September 10, 2026 • 1 min read
The European Space Agency (ESA) is forging ahead with its ambitious Venus mission, Envision, following NASA's withdrawal from its commitment to supply a key radar instrument. The decision, confirmed by the mission's project scientist, has prompted ESA to continue its preparations independently.
Envision aims to map the surface of Venus with unprecedented clarity, boasting a resolution ten times greater than that of NASA's last radar mission in the 1990s. The dense clouds of sulfuric acid that cloak Venus have long obscured the planet's surface from optical observation, making radar technology essential for uncovering its geological features. With Envision, scientists hope to detect signs of ongoing volcanic activity on the planet.
Originally, a memorandum of understanding was established in 2024 between NASA and ESA, detailing their collaboration on the Envision project. NASA's role included providing the synthetic aperture radar, which was crucial for the surface mapping, as well as communication support through the Deep Space Network. In return, ESA planned to integrate US researchers into the science team while taking charge of the spacecraft's construction and the overall mission launch via an Ariane 6 rocket.
Source: arstechnica.com
