Probing Venus’ enigmatic evolution with the new Venus Simulation Laboratory at TU Delft

Abstract

Venus is like Earth in terms of size, density, and composition. However, both bodies evolved so dramatically differently that Venus is characterized by an uninhabitable, run-away greenhouse atmosphere, in marked contrast to Earth's favorable habitable conditions. Understanding the extreme divergence of Venus and Earth’s evolution is of great importance for understanding our early Earth, climate change as well as for studying the habitability of Earth- and Venus-like exoplanets. The key role of Venus in these fields is reflected by at least three major explorative missions scheduled in the next decade by NASA and/or ESA to study Venus in unprecedented detail.