Data Acquisition for Measuring the Wind on Venus from Pioneer Venus

The Pioneer Venus Differential Long Baseline Interferometry experiment was designed to measure the motion in three dimensions of the Pioneer probes during their fall to the surface of Venus, using a combination of Doppler and long baseline ratio interferometric methods. The altitude profies of wind speed and direction that may be deduced from these data are expected to contribute significantly to the understanding of the dynamics of the Venus atmosphere. The design of the experiment and the equipment and software techniques that were developed specially for this experiment are described.