Venus is a Solar System enigma. Similar in size to Earth and orbiting the Sun at a similar distance, it is remarkable how the two planets evolved so differently. While conditions on Earth allowed life to flourish, it seems that Venus may have experienced a dramatic climate change at some point in its history, leaving it with a toxic atmosphere, and an intensely hot, high-pressure surface.Despite a fleet of spacecraft visiting the planet since the 1960s, many open questions remain. The European Space Agency’s Envision is heading to Venus in the 2030s to provide the most comprehensive study of the planet yet. It is set to investigate the planet’s many unsolved mysteries, from the makeup of its interior and possible volcanic activity, to intriguing processes in the atmosphere.

The European Space Agency’s landmark Venus Express mission, which orbited the planet from 2006 to 2014, was Europe’s first mission to Venus. Its discoveries answered many questions, especially concerning the planet’s atmosphere.Still, many mysteries remain, in particular around the planet’s geological history and activity. Envision, with its next-generation suite of instruments, is set to pick up the story.