South Korea has taken a big step in space science with a new project to study Venus. A small satellite, or cubesat, will soon be launched into low Earth orbit (LEO) to observe the atmosphere of Earth’s neighboring planet.
Small Satellite, Big Mission
This cubesat is part of a larger mission called CLOVE, which stands for Chasing the Long-term Variability of Our Nearest Neighbor Planet Venus. The nation’s government-supported research institution, the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), is in charge of the initiative.
The first satellite for the CLOVE mission will be built by NanoAvionics, a company based in Lithuania that specializes in small satellites. The spacecraft will carry special sensors designed to detect ultraviolet and near-infrared light. These sensors will allow scientists to observe changes in Venus’ thick atmosphere, which is full of clouds and toxic gases.
The plan doesn’t stop at one satellite. Over the next 15 years, IBS plans to launch a new satellite every three years. This long-term effort will help scientists collect data for at least one full solar cycle, which lasts about 11 years. Observing Venus over such a long period may help researchers understand how the planet changed into a very hot and harsh world, unlike Earth.
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Using LEO to Study Venus
Even though the cubesat won’t be flying all the way to Venus, it will still be able to watch the planet from low Earth orbit. This is due to the fact that Venus frequently appears near the Sun when viewed from Earth. During daytime orbits, the cubesat will have several chances to observe Venus as it moves across the sky.
Using LEO for this cubesat mission comes with many benefits. Launching and operating small satellites like cubesats in LEO is much cheaper than sending them to another planet. It also avoids the complicated planning and risks that come with interplanetary travel. Since launches to low Earth orbit can happen more frequently, there’s no need to wait for special launch windows that only occur once in a while.
Another benefit of launching new cubesats every few years is that scientists can avoid problems caused by aging equipment. Instruments in space can wear out or become less accurate over time. By using newer satellites at regular intervals, the CLOVE project can gather more reliable and steady data. This will help create a consistent record, or “time series,” of how Venus looks from Earth.
While large planetary missions can carry more advanced tools and take very detailed images, they are much more expensive and complicated. Cubesats can’t match that level of detail, but they can work alongside big missions by collecting helpful supporting data.
Challenges for Larger Venus Missions
While South Korea’s cubesat project is moving forward, larger Venus missions are facing serious financial trouble. The United States space agency NASA has proposed cuts to its science programs as part of the budget request for the 2026 fiscal year.
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These proposed cuts, which still need approval from Congress, could affect three major missions that were planned to explore Venus in the coming years.
One of these missions is named Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging, or DAVINCI. Its purpose was to examine Venus up close by plunging into its dense atmosphere. The other is called VERITAS, which stands for Topography, Spectroscopy, InSAR, Venus Emissivity, and Radio Science. The goal of this mission was to map and investigate the geology of Venus. VERITAS and DAVINCI, which were both scheduled to launch at the end of this decade, are now in danger of being canceled.
Aside from this, NASA also intended to collaborate with the European Space Agency (ESA) on a project known as EnVision. Nevertheless, NASA’s involvement in that project may also be terminated due to the proposed budget cuts. A significant contract to construct the EnVision spacecraft, which is expected to launch in November 2031, had already been won by ESA.
VERITAS had already been delayed several times, and these budget issues could put it on hold even longer. DAVINCI was also on track for a launch around 2030, but its future now remains uncertain.
Despite these challenges for large missions, South Korea’s approach using small cubesats is moving ahead. The CLOVE project could offer valuable data and help keep planetary research going during a time when bigger projects face funding problems. For now, the first CLOVE satellite is expected to be launched next year, beginning a new chapter in how we study our closest planetary neighbor from Earth.
