The Institute of Space Physics (IRF) in Kiruna develops the Venusian Neutral Analyzer, or VNA, as the name is abbreviated.

The instrument will investigate how the charged particles from the sun interact with the planet's atmosphere and the exosphere, the outermost part of the atmosphere, the authority writes in a press release.

"Tight and hot"

This is not the first time the IRF is exploring Venus. An earlier instrument, Aspera-4, provided clues as to where Venus water has taken the road.

“Venus's atmosphere is dense and hot but lacks water. Water existed 4 billion years ago when Venus was formed, but it has been lost, probably to space. Aspera-4 proved that water on Venus escapes into space with energy coming from the solar wind, "said researcher Yoshifumi Futaana in the press release.

Similar to Earth

The new tool will give new knowledge about why the Earth and Venus, which were initially similar to each other, evolved to become so different planets.

VNA will be aboard the Indian spacecraft Shukrayaan-1, which it is planning to postpone during the second half of 2023. Thereafter, a six-year spacecraft will wait before the craft orbits around Venus for a year.