5VK explained

5VK
Country:	Soviet Union
Operator:	Soviet Space Program
Manufacturer:	OKB-1
Preceded:	4MV

The 5VK planetary probe (short for 5th-generation Venus-Comet probe) is a designation for a common design used for Soviet unmanned probes to comet 1P/Halley and Venus.^{[1] [2] [3]}

It was an incremental improvement of earlier 4MV probes used for Mars and Venus missions.

Design

The craft was three-axis stabilized^[4] and powered by twin large solar panels, weighing 4,920 kg (10,850 lb). They were equipped with a dual bumper shield for dust protection from Halley's comet. Instruments included an antenna dish, cameras, spectrometer, infrared sounder, magnetometers, and plasma probes.^{[5] [4]}

Variants

• Vega 1 (5VK No.901)
• Vega 2 (5VK No.902)

See also

• Soviet space program
• Vega program
• 4MV

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vega 5VK. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819185117/http://www.astronautix.com/v/vega5vk.html. dead. August 19, 2016. www.astronautix.com.
2. Book: Erickson, Lance K.. Space Flight: History, Technology, and Operations. October 2, 2010. Rowman & Littlefield. 9780865874190. Google Books.
3. Web site: Vega 1, 2 (5VK #1, 2) . 2023-09-25 . Gunter's Space Page . en.
4. Web site: VEGA Mission. arc.iki.rssi.ru.
5. Web site: SBN Mission Support: Vega 1. pdssbn.astro.umd.edu.