Research suggests Venus was once a habitable planet similar to Earth. A 2019 study from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies found that Venus could have had shallow oceans on the surface for two to three billion years and this would have supported temperatures of between 68 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Around 700 million years ago though, a resurfacing event released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, turning Venus into a dangerous, inhospitable planet where atmospheric temperatures reach 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (over 500 degrees Celsius).

Rocket Lab is sending the first private mission to Venus in search of supporting evidence of organic compounds in the cloud layer - traces of life. The goal, using a Neutron launch vehicle and Photon spacecraft, is to send a probe to around 30 miles’ altitude, where Venus’ atmospheric conditions are closer to those found on Earth.

While more than 30 Venus missions have been undertaken, Rocket Lab’s will be the first private exploration of the planet.

Courtesy of Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab's Neutron is a medium-lift rocket designed for satellite constellation deployment, cargo resupply, and interplanetary missions. Engineered for reusability, it features a return-to-launch-site capability. Powered by the Archimedes engine, Neutron uses liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane as propellants. It can carry up to 13,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and is built using lightweight carbon composite materials to maximize efficiency and strength.

Specs

Height: 43 m (141 ft)

Diameter: 7 m (23 ft)

Fairing Diameter: 5 m (16.5 ft)

Payload to LEO: 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs)

Lift-Off Mass: 480,000 kg (1,058,218 lbs)

Propellant: LOX / Methane

Rocket Lab is currently testing the Neutron at NASA's Stennis Space Center and has signed contracts for future missions, positioning it as a key player in the commercial space industry.

Courtesy of Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is constructing Launch Complex 3 (LC-3), also referred to as Launch Pad 0D (LP-0D), at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) within NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This facility is being developed to support the company's Neutron launch vehicle.

LC-3 is situated within MARS at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore, adjacent to Rocket Lab's existing Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), which serves the Electron launch vehicle.

Designed specifically for Neutron, LC-3 will facilitate various flight profiles, including launch, land, and test scenarios. The site will feature a landing pad and marine systems to support Neutron's reusability features, such as return-to-launch-site and downrange landing options.

Construction activities for LC-3 began in October 2023, located between LP-0A and LP-0B. By April 2024, the installation of a water tower was observed, which is a critical component for sound suppression during launches. By May 2024, concrete work was reportedly completed, advancing the site's readiness.

The establishment of LC-3 underscores Rocket Lab's commitment to enhancing its launch capabilities for Neutron, providing responsive and flexible launch options for both U.S. government and commercial satellite missions.

Courtesy of Rocket Lab and Wikipedia.

The Venus Life Finder spacecraft, carried by Rocket Lab’s Photon platform, is expected to arrive at Venus between late 2026 and early 2027. Roughly 30 minutes before atmospheric entry, Photon will release the atmospheric probe to begin its descent. The probe is targeted to enter on the night side of Venus, where darkness will help minimize background light and improve the sensitivity of its scientific instrument — an autofluorescence nephelometer designed to search for organic molecules in the clouds.

During entry, the probe will encounter extremely high deceleration forces, reaching up to 60 times the force of gravity on Earth. Unlike traditional planetary probes, it will not use a parachute to slow down. Instead, it will rely entirely on aerodynamic braking from Venus’s dense atmosphere.

Once inside the cloud layers, between approximately 65 and 45 kilometers above the surface, the probe will have about five minutes to collect critical scientific data. Throughout the descent, it will continuously transmit data directly to Earth over an S-band radio link. After the five-minute science window, the probe will continue to send signals until atmospheric conditions eventually lead to signal loss, roughly 30 minutes after entry. After completing its mission, the probe is expected to impact the surface of Venus.

Photo courtesy of Rocket Lab.