The Soviet Venera programme.

The history of Soviet missions to the planet Venus since 1961 is surveyed and illustrated with diagrams, drawings, photographs, graphs, and extensive tables listing launch dates and trajectory parameters. Topics discussed include the Venus launch windows, trajectories to Venus, the early Venus-probe plans of Korolyov (Keldysh, 1980), the first-generation program (Venera 1-8, 1961-1972), the second-generation program (Venera 9-18, 1972-1984, including the ongoing Vega mission), and future launch opportunities. The feasibility of landing a surface roving vehicle by the year 2000 is considered.