Soviet Venus space probe "Venera-4" 1967 documentary(english subtitles)
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Venus is the closest planet to us.
But a dense cloud veil covers completely the planet's surface.
Therefore, even today, scientists armed with perfect telescopes
can not see through the thick Venus' atmosphere.
Information that mankind has accumulated as a result of observations
turned out to be contradictory and mysterious.
"Venera-4", automatic interplanetary station.
... have proceeded to common assembly.
Gradually the station gained
its final form.
Automatic station was supposed to provide
the delivery of the capsule to Venus
executing of the scientific measurements on the flight path
and in the planet's atmosphere
and to transmit all information to the Earth.
Venera-4 station consisted of
the orbital module with adjustable motor system
and lander module.
To provide exact orientation in space
a system of orientation and stabilisation with pneumatic operating parts
was installed in the orbital module.
Adjustable motor system (AMS) with fuel reservoirs and operating system
complicated receiving and transmitting radio technical complex
with beam parabolical and low-gain antennas
system of power supply and thermal regulation.
For executing of the experiments during long interplanetary flight and in upper Venus' atmosphere
For executing of the experiments during long interplanetary flight and in upper Venus' atmosphere
scientific hardware was installed at the orbital module.
The lander module was supposed to execute scientific measurements
during its descend in Venus' atmosphere,
and for transmission of information to the Earth.
For this purpose scientific hardware was installed in the lander.
the process of disclosure of solar cells, antennas and magntometer bracket
was repeatedly rehearsed.
was repeatedly rehearsed.
In order to verify the operation of the station,
including thermal regulation system, in conditions close to space
a line of vacuum chamber tests was prosecuted.
An emitter installed in that chamber
was to simulate solar thermal flow on the flight's path
The cold shields with a temperature of -200 C(-328 F),
were supposed to simulate the absorption of thermal radiation of the station by space.
The first phase of independent existence of the lander module
is its separation from orbiter.
Shooting of lander was thoroughly elaboated at the factory tests.
Much attention was paid to the experimental development
of the launch of suspended parachute system.
To assess the reliability of the operationalization of the main parachute
and the disclosure of the radio altimeter antennas
droppings of a dummy-capsule from the aircraft were held .
Hydrodynamic tests were held
to determine buoyancy of the capsule.
Design of the lander was supposed to provide
the necessary sealing and efficiency of equipment
with pressure up to 10 bars and temerature up to 400 C(752 F).
In technical positions a complex test of all systems was executed.
The results of the telemetric recordings
indicated the readiness of the station to the final operations.
... and delays impact of heat to the space.
Protecting the station from overheating as well as from hypothermia.
After the preparatory work docking of the automatic interplanetary station
with the last stage of the launch vehicle was conducted.
And now a radome is being put
which will be dropped in flight after leaving the Earth's atmosphere.
Located on the installer, launch vehicle with automatic interplanetary station Venera-4
is transporting with a locomotive to the launch position.
At the launch site, using the installer, launch vehicle is being transferred to a vertical position.
The installer's arrow goes down an the maintenance-farm is being delivered to the rocket.
Prelaunch preparation of the vehicle has begun.
And now time of launch has come.
We're sending the TASU(Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union)-message:
accordingly to the space and solar system's planets exploration program
12.06.1967 5:40 Moscow time, in the USSR launch of the spacecraft was executed
with automatic interplanetary station towards Venus.
Separated from the last stage of the launch vehicle and obtained escape velocity,
Venera-4 entered the heliocentric trajectory.
Radio antennas and solar cells have opened.
Approaching Venus, station began to feel the impact of the atmosphere.
Overload and temperatureare are rapidly growing.
At 7:38 lander automatically separated.
Communication with Earth temporarily ceased.
The lander was passing the most difficult part of the trajectory
stage of aerodynamic braking.
After passing the peak overload and reducing the speed from ecsape velocity down to 300 meters per second,
a brake parachute was launched by order of the control system.
At 7:39, after opening of the main parachute,
transmission of the scientific onfromation from the Venus' atmosphere began.
After complete fulfillment of the programm of flight and scientific measurements,
at 9:13:57 18.10.1967 automatic interplanetary station Venera-4 has ended...
