The Pioneer Venus Orbiter was a NASA spacecraft launched in 1978 to study the planet Venus. It was part of the Pioneer program and aimed to gather data on Venus's atmosphere, surface, and geological features. The orbiter provided valuable information about the planet's thick clouds and high temperatures, revealing that Venus has a harsh environment. The mission lasted until 1992, during which the Pioneer Venus Orbiter sent back thousands of images and measurements. Its findings contributed significantly to our understanding of Venus and helped shape future missions, including those by NASA and the European Space Agency.