Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Guillermo Söhnlein, co-founder of OceanGate, the company behind the ill-fated Titan submersible, is now focusing on human exploration of Venus.
In an April blog post, Söhnlein, 58, suggested that despite Venus's hostile environment, humans could safely visit and potentially live there with appropriate technology.
Söhnlein argued that the high carbon dioxide levels and sulphuric acid clouds of Venus can be managed with breathing apparatuses and acid-resistant materials.
He proposed constructing habitats in the Venusian atmosphere, about 50 km above the surface, where conditions are more comparable to Earth's, avoiding the extreme surface temperatures.
Söhnlein believes Venus is a more viable option than Mars due to its closer proximity, similar orbit, lower cost, more frequent flight windows, shorter transit times, and higher safety.
He suggested that sending humans to Venus before Mars could help develop the necessary technologies and strategies for interplanetary travel and settlement.
Despite scepticism from experts, Söhnlein remains optimistic, aiming for human colonization of Venus by 2050.
After leaving OceanGate in January 2020, Söhnlein founded the Humans2Venus Foundation and continues to advocate for Venus exploration through Space Bridge Partners, a venture connecting investors with space missions.
Despite the tragic loss of his co-founder Stockton Rush in the Titan submersible incident, Söhnlein is committed to his vision of making Venus exploration a reality.