A way to explore Venus
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN shares it as the go-to visual for the idea of crewed blimps floating above Venus.
What it is
A NASA Langley concept video for HAVOC, a lighter-than-air vehicle that would carry two astronauts on a 30-day mission in Venus's upper atmosphere. It explains why the planet's surface is so hostile and why the clouds are more habitable.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2019 to 2021.
What Hacker News said
Recommends Something1234 · 2019-03 · on “SpaceX Crew Dragon Docks with International Space Station”
There's this real cool concept about a manned blimp that was produced by NASA a few years ago. It has a really cool video to go with it too. [this video]
Cites blotter_paper · 2019-06 · on “Momentum is building to explore Venus”
I know this isn't what you mean by "studied," but here's a NASA produced video mockup of manned blimps over Venus: [this video]
Cites palisade · 2020-03 · on “Saturn's largest moon may be the only place beyond Earth where humans could live”
A floating habitat on Venus is actually more attractive. Venus (upper atmosphere): -human livable temperatures with modest temperature control -Earth-like pressure (Himalayans) leads to slow leaks that can be patched, and pressure can be increased inside to stop the leaks inward -protected by thick atmosphere from radiation, meteors, asteroids -strong magnetic field against radiation -atmosphere still thin enough for solar panel energy use -the sulfuric acid atmosphere requires a Teflon coating and/or mixing Teflon particles with the metals during fabrication -the escape velocity from the upper atmosphere is low and requires a small rocket and not much fuel, leaving more fuel for return trip
Cites _Microft · 2021-07 · on “Soviet Venus Images (2004)”
There is a concept by NASA for such a mission, it is called "High Altitude Venus Operational Concept" or "HAVOC" [0]. They also made a demo video for it [1]. [0] [LINK] [1] [this video]