The Venera program was a series of Soviet space missions aimed at exploring the planet Venus. Initiated in the early 1960s, the program included multiple spacecraft designed to study Venus's atmosphere, surface, and geological features. Notable achievements included the first successful landing on Venus and the transmission of images from its surface. The program consisted of several missions, with Venera 7 being the first to send data back from the surface in 1970. Over the years, the Venera program provided valuable insights into Venus's harsh conditions, including its high temperatures and pressure, contributing significantly to planetary science.