EXPLORING VENUS TOGETHER

Inspiration

I have more interest in space adventures

What it does

The Challenge to design an energy storage system that will power a surface lander or rover on the surface of Venus for at least 60 days, so that there is a viable energy storage capability for long-duration exploration missions.

How we built it

Challenges we ran into

For in situ planetary exploration missions, energy is required to power scientific instruments, gather and process the data collected, and communicate the results back to Earth. Energy is also often required to move a vehicle on the surface. Batteries are typically used to store and deliver this energy. However, currently available batteries cannot operate in the extreme environment on the surface of Venus. The temperature is extremely hot (~460 C) and the high-pressure atmosphere (~93 bar) contains caustic chemicals (SO2, HCl, HF). Exposed to these conditions, common batteries would rapidly fail. All previous missions to the surface of Venus have been designed to operate for short durations (less than two hours). In those missions, the components were contained in a pressure vessel, which eventually heated up to a temperature at which the components could no longer operate and the mission ended.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

WE HAVE DEVELOPED A GOOD PROJECT

What we learned

-Stored energy -Source of energy -Rate at which the stored energy can be used -Self-discharge rate -Volume -Mass -Operation temperature range -Using the energy released on atmospheric entry and descent -Use of active materials (e.g., in the case of a battery, the anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte materials) -Whether a protective enclosure is required -Whether the system can be operated in any orientation -Whether the system uses in situ resources from Venus (e.g., CO2) -Whether the system can be recharged -Whether the system can tolerate the forces and vibrations due to launch, reentry, descent, and landing -Whether the system can tolerate partial failure and still provide energy

What's next for EXPLORING VENUS TOGETHER

Working on...

Built With

• dynamics
• heat