The maximum science outcome from flagship space missions is only achievable through strategic synergy with small satellites, both as piggyback and dedicated platforms that democratize access to planetary science while addressing critical gaps that flagship missions cannot accommodate, while providing hands-on experience and cutting-edge education for the next generation. I demonstrate this philosophy through my work for the first private planetary mission – Rocket Lab Mission to Venus – a short-lived atmospheric probe with limited data transmission optimized for fast development, high-risk, high-scientific-return strategy. The probe's primary scientific instrument, the Autofluorescence Nephelometer (AFN), will gather data by measuring light scattering off particles to determine cloud composition based on refractive index and particle size – for the first time in nearly half a century. However, interpreting these measurements faces fundamental limitations due to degeneracy – multiple combinations of particle properties can produce indistinguishable scattered light intensities. Through developing a novel Bayesian retrieval framework and intelligent data strategy, I show how thoughtful design choices can mitigate these effects, reducing data transmission requirements (and therefore mass, power, cost and development time) while preserving scientific integrity. This work transforms what would be a data-intensive mission into one feasible for small platforms and small launch vehicles, providing a prominent example for maximizing scientific return from the challenging but scientifically rich domains of remote and in-situ planetary exploration.

M. Regina A. Moreno is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics and S.M. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics, along with a B.S. degree in Physics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. At MIT, she works as part of the Rocket Lab Mission to Venus collaboration that will launch a probe to study the composition of the Venusian clouds in 2026. Her research experience spans multiple spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion systems, scientific instrumentation, power systems, and data handling. Her work focuses on maximizing scientific return from data-constrained missions and is motivated by democratizing interplanetary exploration through intelligent mission design.