Tucked, unmarked, in a back corner of Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center hangs one of the most amazing planetary probes ever flown. I came across it on while doing the book signing there for “Floating to Space”
It is the Vega balloon that flew in the atmosphere of Venus, well it’s the backup vehicle. The real one that flew in 1985 is still on Venus. This single mission put a lander on the surface of Venus, sent a balloon flying in the atmosphere and sent the “mothership” to intercept Halley’s Comet. All three elements of the mission were a success. Incredible.
