NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Venus lower atmospheric composition - Preliminary results from Pioneer VenusInitial examination of data from the neutral mass spectrometer on the Pioneer Venus sounder probe indicates that the abundances of argon-36, argon-38, and neon-20 in the Venus atmosphere are much higher than those of the corresponding gases in Earth's atmosphere, although the abundance of radiogenic argon-40 is apparently similar for both planets. The lower atmosphere of Venus includes significant concentrations of various gaseous sulfur compounds. The inlet leak to the mass spectrometer was temporarily blocked by an apparently liquid component of the Venus clouds during passage through the dense cloud layer. Analysis of gases released during the evaporation of the droplets shows the presence of water vapor to some compound or compounds of sulfur.
Document ID
19790040161
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hoffman, J. H.
(Texas Univ. at Dallas Richardson, TX, United States)
Hodges, R. R., Jr.
(Texas, University Richardson, Tex., United States)
Mcelroy, M. B.
(Harvard University Cambridge, Mass., United States)
Donahue, T. M.
(Michigan, University Ann Arbor, Mich., United States)
Kolpin, M.
(Physics International Co. San Leandro, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
February 23, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 203
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
79A24174
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-8802
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-9485
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available