on october 20, 1975, the lander spacecraft separated from the orbiter, and landing was made with the sun near zenith at 05:13 utc on october 22. "venera 9" landed within a radius of , near beta regio, on a steep (20°) slope covered with boulders (suspected to be the slope of the tectonic rift valley, aikhylu chasma). the entry sphere weighed and the surface payload was .