  Recent miniaturization of electronics in very small, low-cost and low-power
configurations suitable for use in spacecraft have inspired innovative
small-scale satellite concepts, such as ChipSats, centimeter-scale satellites
with a mass of a few grams. These extremely small spacecraft have the potential
to usher in a new age of space science accessibility. Due to their low
ballistic coefficient, ChipSats can potentially be used in a swarm
constellation for extended surveys of planetary atmospheres, providing large
amounts of data with high reliability and redundancy. We present a preliminary
feasibility analysis of a ChipSat planetary atmospheric entry mission with the
purpose of searching for traces of microscopic lifeforms in the atmosphere of
Venus. Indeed, the lower cloud layer of the Venusian atmosphere could be a good
target for searching for microbial lifeforms, due to the favourable atmospheric
conditions and the presence of micron-sized sulfuric acid aerosols. A numerical
model simulating the planetary entry of a spacecraft of specified geometry,
applicable to any atmosphere for which sufficient atmospheric data are
available, is implemented and verified. The results are used to create a
high-level design of a ChipSat mission cruising in the Venusian atmosphere at
altitudes favorable for the existence of life. The paper discusses the ChipSat
mission concept and considerations about the spacecraft preliminary design at
system level, including the selection of a potential payload.
