Guillermo Söhnlein, co-founder of the company behind the ill-fated Titan submersible, has shifted his focus to an ambitious new frontier: Venus. Despite the tragic incident claiming lives, Söhnlein believes humans can safely explore and potentially inhabit Venus, leveraging breathing apparatus and acid-resistant materials to overcome its extreme conditions.
In a blog post, the 58-year-old proposed establishing human habitats approximately 50 km above Venus’s surface, where conditions are comparably more hospitable than on its scorching surface. He argues that Venus presents a more feasible option than Mars due to its closer proximity, similar orbit to Earth, and potentially lower costs and shorter transit times for missions.
Söhnlein asserts that tackling Venus first could pave the way for safer interplanetary travel capabilities, suggesting it might be a more prudent step before attempting Mars landings. Despite current skepticism among experts, he remains optimistic about achieving human presence on Venus by 2050 through his ventures, including the Humans2Venus Foundation and Space Bridge Partners.
Despite setbacks, including the loss of his co-founder, Söhnlein remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing Venus exploration and fostering commercial investment in space missions.
