Giant Leap for Mankind Without a Step

One small step was a giant leap for mankind in 1969. Setting foot on a planet is a much harder goal to achieve. I would like to propose a much simpler alternative to achieve a similar impact for mankind. Fly a plane on Venus. The astronauts would observe the planet from a low altitude plane. Special tricks can be developed to bring back small samples as well.

Venus clouds do not allow proper exploration of the surface of the planet. A low altitude plane would be able to gather valuable data about the planet. Additionally, humans would be inside the plane, well protected from the hazardous atmosphere and surface of Venus. Humans do not need to set foot on the planet for such a big achievement.

Depending on precise timing, Venus is the closest planet to Earth. Additionally, its dense atmosphere allows much higher airlift that allows longer aerial observation with limited fuel.

Venus mission would require multiple launches described on my previous articles. The major difference would be the Planetary Transfer Module. It would be a Delta Wing with multiple sections. There would be a retrorocket in the front. It would be used to decelerate the Delta Wing while orbiting the planet. Once the speed is lowered for atmospheric entry, the section will be released. Delta Wing would then decelerate in dense Venus atmosphere like a normal airplane using spoilers and flaps. When the cruising speed is reached, high bypass turbofan engine would be fired and the plane flies at its minimum power speed. This would allow large areas of the planet to be explored up close. When the fuel level is low, the plane would climb up in the atmosphere to assist the ascent stage. Then the ascent section of the delta wing will take the humans back to the orbiting service module like in the Apollo mission.

Delegating some of the slow down to the Delta Wing, reduces the fuel need for the descent stage. Additionally, cruising in the air using highly efficient high bypass turbofan engines would allow longer stay on the planet and avoid complex space suits for the astronauts.

This is a much feasible mission compared to any mission to Mars. One big bonus would be, Venus mission allows a disabled person to be among the first humans to explore a planet.