Venera 3

Infobox_Spacecraft
Name = Venera 3


Caption = Venera-3
Organization = USSR
Major_Contractors =
Mission_Type = Lander
Satellite_Of = Venus
Orbital_Insertion_Date = Landed on March 1, 1966
Launch = November 16, 1965 at 04:19 UTC
Launch_Vehicle = Tyazheliy Sputnik (65-092B)
Decay =
Mission_Duration = November 16, 1965 to March 1, 1966
NSSDC_ID = 1965-092A
Webpage =
Mass = 960 kg
Power =
Orbital_elements =
Semimajor_Axis =
Eccentricity =
Inclination =
Orbital_Period =
Apoapsis =
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Venera 3 (Russian:Венера-3) was a Venera program space probe that was built and launched by the Soviet Union to explore the surface of Venus. It was launched on November 16, 1965 at 04:19 UTC from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

The mission of this spacecraft was to land on the Venusian surface. The entry body contained a radio communication system, scientific instruments, electrical power sources, and medallions bearing the State Coat of Arms of the U.S.S.R.

The probe crash-landed on Venus on March 1, 1966 becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet's surface. It impacted on the night side of Venus, near the terminator, probably around -20º to 20º N, 60º to 80º E. However, its communications systems failed before it could return any information about the planet.

ee also

* Timeline of planetary exploration