The orbiter consisted of a cylinder with two solar panel wings and a high gain parabolic antenna attached to the curved surface.

A bell-shaped unit holding propulsion systems was attached to the bottom of the cylinder, and mounted on top was a 2.4-metre (7.9 ft) sphere which held the lander.

The instruments composing the orbiter included:[7] The lander was encased in a spherical shell before landing to help protect it from the heat of entry as it slowed from 10.7 kilometres per second (6.6 mi/s) to 150 metres per second (490 ft/s).

This sphere was then separated with explosive bolts and a three-domed parachute was deployed which slowed the lander further to 50 metres per second (160 ft/s) at an altitude of 63 kilometres (39 mi) above the planet.

[8] To minimize lander damage in the hot atmosphere, the parachute was released at an altitude of 50 kilometres (31 mi), and the ring-shaped aerodynamic shield provided braking.

[7] During descent, heat dissipation and deceleration were accomplished sequentially by protective hemispheric shells, three parachutes, a disc-shaped drag brake, and a compressible, metal, doughnut-shaped landing cushion.

Venera 9 was the first probe to send back television pictures (black and white) from the Venusian surface, showing no shadows, no apparent dust in the air, and a variety of 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) rocks which were not eroded.