Pioneer Venus Orbiter
The Pioneer Venus Orbiter, also known as Pioneer Venus 1 and Pioneer 12, was a mission by NASA to orbit Venus and collect information. It was launched on May 20, 1978 by an Atlas Centuar rocket, and operated (sent data) until October 8, 1992. Pioneer Venus Orbiter fell into Venus’s atmosphere 2 weeks later on October 22. It arrived at Venus on December 4, 1978, and continued sending data for 14 years. The Pioneer Venus Orbiter is part of a space program called the Pioneer Program.