Courtesy of NASA's National Space Science Data Center
Launch Date: 1970-08-17 On-orbit dry mass: 1180.00 kg
Description
Venera 7 was launched from a Tyazheliy Sputnik towards Venus to study the Venusian atmosphere and other phenomena of the planet. Venera 7 entered the atmosphere of Venus on December 15, 1970, and a landing capsule was jettisoned. After aerodynamic braking, a parachute system was deployed. The capsule antenna was extended, and signals were
returned for 35 minutes. Another 23 minutes of very weak signals were received after
the spacecraft landed on Venus. The capsule was the first man-made object to
return data after landing on another planet.