Vega solar system probe bus and landing apparatus (model) - Udvar-Hazy Center | |||
Manufacturer | OKB-1 | ||
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Country of origin | Soviet Union | ||
Operator | Soviet Space Program | ||
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The5VK planetary probe (short for5th-generation Venus-Comet probe) is a designation for a common design used forSoviet unmannedprobes to comet1P/Halley andVenus.[1][2][3]
It was an incremental improvement of earlier4MV probes used forMars and Venus missions.
The craft wasthree-axis stabilized[4] and powered by twin large solar panels, weighing 4,920 kg (10,850 lb). They were equipped with a dual bumper shield for dust protection from Halley's comet. Instruments included an antenna dish, cameras,spectrometer, infrared sounder,magnetometers, and plasma probes.[5][4]