VISAGE: Venus In Situ Atmospheric and Geochemical Explorer
The VISAGE mission was to create a visually appealing proposal cover to present to potential NASA investors for a lander to study the surface and atmosphere of Venus.
The atmosphere of Venus at the surface has an average temperature of 450°C and is highly acidic and corrosive, which severely limits the time a lander can function. The VISAGE lander would function autonomously while descending (1 hour) and would operate on the surface for an additional 3.5 hours, and it would transmit its acquired data to the nearby carrier module for relay to Earth before it gets destroyed.
The VISAGE mission would include the following activities:
Surface activities: Measure the elemental composition and mineralogy of the surface at two depths. Samples would be brought inside for analysis, and pictures of the drill sites would be taken before and after.
Science investigations: Inventory noble gases and light stable isotopes, measure the composition of trace and reactive gases, and take descent images of the surface.
Carrier spacecraft: Fly by the planet and serve as a telecom relay.
The scientific drivers for the VISAGE mission would be to:
Compare Earth, Mars, and Venus
Predict the future of Earth
Develop models for extra-solar planets
Art Inspiration "The Birth of Venus," painted by Sandro Botticelli in the mid-1480s, depicts the mythological birth of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The painting illustrates her emergence from the sea, standing on a shell, as she is blown towards the shore by the winds, Zephyr and Aura. On the land, a figure, often interpreted as one of the Horae, is ready to cover her with a cloak.
Initial CompsReferenced space propaganda posters from the 1960's / notes venus girl is subtle on the planets surface / graphic half globe over atmosphere cloud "analyzing" the surface / craft aeroplanes towards planet / graphic elements of streaks behind venus could be meteors or space debris / graphic "arrows" pointing towards venus
Style GuideThe team asked not to use red/yellow in the proposal colors style guide because these colors in science indicate danger. I opted for a harmonious triadic mix of orange, violet, green and a complementary blue.
Logo Ideation & DesignEarly logo inspiration was from aircraft wings to make the V look like a mechanical point as if it were a robotic arm. A second ideation was to indicate a drill in the V to elude to what the lander would do after impact on the planets surface.
Final CompositionsThe final concept was to show Venus covering herself with the crust of the planet as the lander parachutes through layers of the atmosphere to the surface.
Final Proposal Cover