NASA planned a crewed Venus flyby mission

A recent study released by the European Space Agency (ESA) outlined several mission concepts for the next decade, one of which involves a Venus flyby to test advanced propulsion and navigation technologies. The proposed trajectory would send a small, unmanned probe on a trajectory that passes within 1,000 kilometers of Venus, using the planet’s gravity to slingshot the spacecraft toward the outer Solar System. The team highlighted that the mission would be a bold undertaking due to the high thermal and radiation environment near Venus, as well as the need for precise trajectory corrections during the close encounter.

According to the study, the Venus flyby would serve as a critical demonstration of high‑performance electric propulsion systems and autonomous guidance algorithms. Engineers plan to deploy a suite of scientific instruments, including a high‑resolution camera and a spectrometer, to collect data on Venus’s atmospheric composition and surface conditions during the brief encounter. The mission is slated for launch in 2035, with a projected flyby window in 2037, and would be followed by a trajectory that targets the outer planets for a secondary science campaign.

If approved, the Venus flyby concept would mark a significant step forward for ESA’s deep‑space exploration capabilities, providing a low‑risk testbed for technologies that could be used on future missions to the Kuiper Belt or interstellar probes. The study’s authors note that successful completion of the flyby would demonstrate the feasibility of rapid, high‑precision maneuvers in a harsh environment, potentially opening new avenues for planetary science and space navigation.