NASA's two Venus missions are back on track after facing cancellation and delays. The DAVINCI mission is now scheduled to launch in December 2030, a year earlier than previously planned, and will send a descent probe through Venus's atmosphere to take the first direct surface images since 1982.
The second mission, VERITAS, will launch in November 2032 to map the planet's surface with radar from orbit. The European Space Agency's Envision orbiter is also set for a 2032 launch. In addition, Rocket Lab aims to launch a privately funded probe as early as late 2027 to search for organic material in Venus's clouds.
The missions were imperiled by budget cuts, which led NASA to consider canceling VERITAS and to pull out of a partnership to supply a radar for Envision. Scientists at a recent VEXAG meeting expressed optimism, with NASA's Jim Garvin saying "We have some good news for Venus."