Lander
The lander carried instruments to study the temperature and atmospheric and soil chemical composition. A device called Groza detected lightning on Venus. Both Venera 11 and Venera 12 had landers with two cameras, each designed for color imaging, though Soviet literature does not mention them. Each failed to return images when the lens covers did not separate after landing due to a design flaw. The soil analyzer also failed. A gas chromatograph was on board to measure the composition of the Venus atmosphere, as well as instruments to study scattered solar radiation. Results reported included evidence of lightning and thunder, a high Ar36/Ar40 ratio, and the discovery of carbon monoxide at low altitudes.
List of lander experiments and instruments:
- Backscatter Nephelometer
- Mass Spectrometer - MKh-6411
- Gas Chromatograph - Sigma
- X-Ray Fluorospectrometer
- 360° Scanning Photometer - IOAV
- Spectrometer (430-1170 nm)
- Microphone/Anemometer
- Low-Frequency Radio Sensor
- 4 Thermometers
- 3 Barometers
- Accelerometer - Bizon
- Penetrometer - PrOP-V
- Soil Analysis Device
- 2 Color Cameras
- Small solar batteries - MSB
Read more about this topic: Venera 11