Is it possible to breathe on Venus? The secret of the planet will be revealed by Davinci.

The Davinci mission, which is scheduled to arrive on Venus in 2029, will make the first measurements of the amount of oxygen existing near the planet's surface.

While Mars is the primary target in the race to become interplanetary, Venus may be the closest competitor, as Earth plans multiple trips to the planet next door. However, before opting to visit Venus, it will be necessary to determine the planet's organic and chemical composition.

The Deep Atmosphere is the deepest layer of the atmosphere. In 2029, the Venus Investigation of Noble Gases, Chemistry, and Imaging mission, also known as Davinci, will launch to Venus to investigate the science. The spacecraft will be equipped with a specific instrument to measure the amount of oxygen existing near the planet's surface. Venus Oxygen Fugacity (VfOx), a small, button-sized sensor that will conduct the breakthrough measurements, will be included.

Scientists will be able to identify which minerals are most stable at the surface of Venus in the highlands for the first time by analysing these ground-breaking VfOx observations, according to Nasa. They will also be able to link the formation of rocks to their recent modification histories.

WHAT EXACTLY IS VFOX?
Undergraduate and graduate students are working on the Venus Oxygen Fugacity (VfOx) for the DAVINCI mission to Venus' atmosphere. The oxygen fugacity, or partial pressure of oxygen in the deep atmosphere beneath Venus' clouds, will be measured by the sensor, which will be positioned on the outside of the Descent Sphere.

"Understanding the amount of oxygen in Venus' atmosphere will be crucial in preparing for the JWST and future observatories to characterise Venus-like worlds outside our solar system. The amount of oxygen in Venus's deepest atmosphere will aid scientists in their research of these faraway worlds "In a statement, Nasa said.

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF DAVINCI?
The Davinci mission will analyse the composition of Venus' atmosphere to learn more about how it developed and evolved, as well as if Venus ever had an ocean. The mission's goal will be to discover the first signs of possible life on Venus.

Because Venus and Earth are comparable in size and density, these planets may theoretically be extremely similar. Despite this, they are diametrically opposed. The mission of the spacecraft is to hunt for indicators of changes on the planet that could be mirrored on Earth as a result of climate change.

DAVINCI+ will return the first high-resolution photographs of Venus, describing its geological features that may be comparable to Earth's continents, implying that Venus has plate tectonics.