ESA selected EnVision, the space mission to Venus involving a group of researchers from Sapienza University.

After NASA's Magellan, Esa's Venus Express and JAXA's Akatsuki missions, Venus will be the destination of three space missions between late 2020 and early 2030. Along with Veritas and DAVINCI+, approved by NASA, the EnVision mission, which will be launched in early 2030, was selected by ESA. Researchers of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering led by Antonio Genova, co-Investigator of the gravity experiment, played a key role.

The expeditions aim to understand - through the characterization of the internal structure of Venus, the mapping of its surface and the observation of volcanic activity - what were the processes that led to an evolution of the Venusian environment so different from that of Earth. Specifically, EnVision will enable both global-scale measurements and more accurate observations of regions of interest where significant geologic activity is expected.

During the selection phase, Sapienza researchers were responsible for the feasibility study with the on-board instrumentation, accurate modelling of the planet's interior and atmosphere, and the definition of the scientific requirements of the experiment.

The contribution will be crucial in the future phases of the mission to establish synergies and complementarities between the various instruments and the gravity experiment, allowing the greatest possible scientific return. The research activities of the Sapienza group are based on a solid experience acquired with the 2001 NASA Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions, still in orbit around Mars, and with the NASA MESSENGER mission to Mercury.