Abstract: Venus and Earth were formed approximately the same distance from the Sun, and have almost the same masses and volumes: they should be the most similar pair of planets in the Solar System. A vital, outstanding question is how and when these planets diverged in their atmospheric evolutions. Significantly, recent investigations present evidence for microbial life in Venus' cloud deck. Venus presents us with fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of planetary bodies and life in our ...

Source: Venera-D Mission Concept to Study A...e Venera-D Joint Science Definition Team