Study Says 1978 Pioneer Venus Day Probe Still Sits on Venus Nearly 50 Years Later
Updated
Updated · 19FortyFive · Jun 21
Study Says 1978 Pioneer Venus Day Probe Still Sits on Venus Nearly 50 Years Later
1 articles · Updated · 19FortyFive · Jun 21
Summary
A May 2026 study concluded the Pioneer Venus Day Probe likely still remains on Venus, making the wreck of NASA’s accidental 1978 lander a surviving relic on the surface.
67 minutes and 37 seconds after touchdown, the probe kept transmitting despite being built only for descent; researchers say a soft, dusty landing site likely cushioned impact and helped it survive.
NASA records show the probe hit Venus at 31.3 degrees south on Dec. 9, 1978, then endured about 456C heat and 91.5 bars of pressure before failing.
Tests at NASA’s Glenn Extreme Environments Rig found titanium has excellent resistance under Venus-like conditions, supporting the study’s view that the mostly titanium probe should have largely kept its shape.
At least 7 of 15 Venus missions from 1965 to 1985 may have left hardware still on the planet, a question that gains relevance as NASA’s DAVINCI and VERITAS target launches around 2031.