Europe will proceed with Venus mission independently following NASA radar instrument withdrawal

The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed it will move forward with its Envision mission to Venus despite NASA’s decision to withdraw its commitment to provide a critical radar instrument. Originally, the two agencies had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2024, with NASA slated to supply the synthetic aperture radar necessary for mapping the planet's surface through its dense sulfuric acid clouds. Envision aims to map Venus at a resolution ten times higher than previous missions, specifically searching for evidence of active volcanism. While NASA will no longer provide the primary radar instrument, the ESA remains committed to the project, intending to build the spacecraft and its remaining instruments internally. The mission will launch on an Ariane 6 rocket, marking a significant step for European autonomy in deep space exploration as the agency adapts to the change in international collaboration.