TOP 3 OF ROBUST PROBES

VENERA 11: 95 MINUTES

The probe discovered thunder and lightning on Venus and measured a temperature of 452 °C and a pressure 92.6 times Earth's at sea level NATION: USSR DATE OF LANDING: 25 December 1978 RADIO CONTACT from the surface for 95 minutes

VENERA 12: 110 MINUTES

The lander measured the clouds in the sky of Venus and found sulphur and chlorine. At a lower altitude, it measured traces of carbon monoxide. NATION: USSR DATE OF LANDING: 21 December 1978 RADIO CONTACT from the surface for 110 minutes

VENERA 13: 127 MINUTES

The most die-hard probe survived four times longer than planned and sent the first colour picture from another planet back to Earth. NATION: USSR DATE OF LANDING: 1 March 1982 RADIO CONTACT from the surface for 127 minutes

The Soviet Union’s Venera craft collected most of the data we have, from Venus’ surface.