The 5VK planetary probe (short for 5th-generation Venus-Comet probe) is a designation for a common design used for Soviet unmanned probes to comet 1P/Halley and Venus.

[1][2][3] It was an incremental improvement of earlier 4MV probes used for Mars and Venus missions.

The craft was three-axis stabilized[4] and powered by twin large solar panels, weighing 4,920 kg (10,850 lb).

They were equipped with a dual bumper shield for dust protection from Halley's comet.

Instruments included an antenna dish, cameras, spectrometer, infrared sounder, magnetometers, and plasma probes.