金星探测研究进展与未来展望

Progress and future prospects of Venus exploration

金星探测是解答太阳系类地行星形成演化,地球宜居性的形成和未来发展,以及外太阳系宜居星球搜索策略的关键。由于金星恶劣的环境条件、对探测技术的多重挑战和相对高昂的探测成本,金星探测和研究程度远不及月球和火星。自20世纪90年代后期,金星探测任务相对匮乏。本文梳理了国际上金星探测研究进展、关键科学问题及技术需求,提出了未来金星的探测目标和探测方式建议。目前,对金星大气和气候研究程度最高,包括大气结构和大气化学,能量平衡和热结构,云层和霾层,大气环流和动力学以及气候演化等。高层大气的物理化学和太阳风与金星的相互作用方面也有重要进展。金星地表和内部的研究则相对滞后,研究涵盖金星表面形貌特征,撞击和重塑历史,火山和构造活动,地表物质组成,地表和大气相互作用等,但受限于数据的空间覆盖率和较低的分辨率和精度,诸多重大问题尚未解答,迫切需要新的探测数据。除探测任务外,金星研究还依赖于地基观测、实验室模拟和数值模拟研究。地面模拟设施对支持金星探测任务研发和金星基础科学研究尤为重要。未来十年是中国开展金星探测的契机和研发相关技术的关键时期。本文可为对金星探测、行星科学、太阳系探测感兴趣的科学家和工程人员提供参考。

Venus exploration is the key to answering the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets in the solar system,exploring the formation and future of habitability of Earth,and developing a search strategy for habitable planets in the exoplanets.Due to the harsh environmental conditions on Venus,multiple challenges to technology,and high costs,exploration and scientific study of Venus lags far behind that of the Moon and Mars.Here,we summarize the research progress,critical scientific questions,and technological requirements of Venus exploration and propose objectives and structure element types for future Venus missions.At present,most advances have been made in the study of the atmosphere and climate of Venus,including atmospheric structure and chemistry,energy balance and thermal structure,clouds and haze,atmospheric circulation and dynamics,and climate evolution.There have also been significant advances in the physical chemistry of the upper atmosphere and the interaction of the solar wind with Venus.In contrast,research of the surface and interior of Venus is relatively lagging.Present studies have investigated the topographic characteristics of Venus’surface,the history of impact and resurface,volcanoes and tectonic activities,the composition of surface materials,and the interaction between the surface and the atmosphere.Due to limited spatial coverage and data resolution,many major scientific questions are left unanswered.Besides Venus missions,ground-based observations,laboratory simulations,and numerical simulations are crucial for Venus study.Simulation facilities are essential in supporting mission developments and scientific research.The next decade is crucial for China to consider the Venus exploration mission and a critical period for developing related technologies.This review is intended for Chinese scientists and engineers interested in the science and exploration of Venus,planetary science,and solar system exploration.