The nephelometer, flight computer, and radio are housed in a spherical titanium pressure vessel encased within a layer of insulation to protect the electronics and instrument from the corrosive Venusian atmosphere and maintain acceptable temperatures.

[2] The probe contains one scientific instrument; the Autofluorescence Nephelometer, which will project a 440 nm diode laser into the Venusian atmosphere through a fused silicate window.

The scattered and fluoresced light will be collected through the same fused silicate window by a lens, from which the existence of organics, as well as particle size, shape, composition and concentration can be ascertained.

After being delivered to low Earth orbit, the Explorer cruise stage will perform a series of burns culminating in a lunar gravity assist which will send the spacecraft to Venus.

Entering on the night-side to minimize background light for the autofluorescence nephelometer instrument, the probe will experience a peak g-force of 60 Gs and will descend through the atmosphere without a parachute.

[8] The probe will directly transmit its data to Earth by S-band until expected loss of signal thirty minutes after atmospheric entry, after which it will impact the Venusian surface.