Aeracept (Aerosol Rapid Analysis Combined Entry Probe/Sonde Technology): Enabling Technology for Missions to the Venus Clouds

Aerosols (clouds, hazes, dusts) are drivers of key planetary processes, including mass and energy transfer. They can play a determining role in planetary climate evolution, such as the divergence of Venus and Earth. Clouds are even of habitability interest due to their occurrence on rocky worlds with liquid water – Earth's fog and cloud water have a substantial microbial presence. However, aerosols are highly dynamic, and once-in-a-lifetime flagship missions are not enough to fully characterize them.