Planetary Geoarchaeology of Venus
Assessing the Preservation Conditions of the Venus Space Probes
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19220898 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Luca Forassiepi (0009-0003-6583-0056, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, corresponding author), Justin A Holcomb (0000-0002-4461-1634, United States Geological Survey), Maurizio Pajola (Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova), Gai Jorayev (Macao University of Tourism), Kolbe Andrzejewski (United States Geological Survey) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Geoarchaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0883-6353 • E-ISSN: 1520-6548 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/gea.70056 |
| OpenAlex | W7159062983 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 61 |
Venus preserves the remains of landers and probes from 15 space missions concentrated between 1965 and 1985. These artifacts and sites represent the earliest material traces of direct human interaction with the surface of the planet and are therefore of considerable historical significance. However, the extent to which material left on the Venusian surface is preserved remains poorly understood. They were deposited or impacted within one of the most extreme surface environments in the Solar System, characterized by temperatures of ~460°C, atmospheric pressures of ~92 bar dominated by supercritical CO2 and chemically reactive gases. Additionally, the Venusian environment includes active surface processes such as volcanic, seismic, and mass‐movement events. For these reasons, it is commonly assumed that Venus's surface environment would rapidly erase anthropogenic material remains. This study assesses the preservation state of Venusian space heritage by adopting the theoretical and methodological framework of planetary geoarcheology. First, we provide an archeological catalog of all known Venusian landing and impact contexts. Next, we draw from available geological and geomorphological datasets to qualitatively evaluate preservation conditions of these contexts. Finally, we provide an in‐depth case study focused on atmospheric effects on the Pioneer Venus Day Probe (1978). Our study suggests that, despite the harsh conditions and ongoing physical and chemical alterations that may indicate unfavorable preservation conditions, Venusian space heritage may exhibit a high potential for long‐term preservation favored by slow geological processes and global climatic stability. Further, as demonstrated below, while specific construction materials, such as beryllium, Kapton, and silicone‐based components, are likely to have been heavily degraded or destroyed, the majority of materials used in the main structure and in various probe subsystems, including titanium, ceramic, and aluminum, are likely to be preserved, albeit oxidized, corroded, and potentially deformed. These findings challenge prevailing assumptions about preservation conditions on Venus and establish the planet as a key case study for planetary geoarcheology, space archeology, and heritage
Habitability · Planetary science · Solar System · Space exploration · Venus · Volcano · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Planetary Science and Exploration
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |