separating from its flight platform on december 19, 1978, the lander entered the venus atmosphere two days later at 11.2 km/s. during the descent, it employed aerodynamic braking followed by parachute braking and ending with atmospheric braking. it made a soft landing on the surface at 06:30 moscow time (0330 ut) on 21 december after a descent time of approximately 1 hour. the touchdown speed was 7–8 m/s. landing coordinates are . it transmitted data to the flight platform for 110 minutes after touchdown until the flight platform moved out of range while remaining in a heliocentric orbit. identical instruments were carried on venera 11 and 12.