When was magellan launched

The spacecraft burned up in the Venusian atmosphere about 10 hours later after one of the most successful deep space missions. As a result, surface features can persist for hundreds of millions of years. In addition, the spacecraft found that such phenomena as continental drift are not evident on the planet. Siddiqi, Asif A. What was Magellan? In a Magellan image dubbed the "Crater Farm" we see the curious layering of volcanic activity and impact craters. Three impact craters are displayed in this three-dimensional perspective view of the surface of Venus.

The next full Moon is the Beaver Moon, and there will be a near-total lunar eclipse. Full Moon Guide: November - December This page showcases our resources for those interested in learning more about Mars. Mars Resources. NASA scientists are calling for a framework that provides context for findings related to the search for life. Are We Alone in the Universe? Original name of the project was the Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar. Hughes supplied the radar mapper, and Martin the satellite.

Because Magellan was intended to be a low cost mission, major components of the spacecraft were obtained from flight spares from other programs including Galileo, Viking, Voyager, Mariner, Skylab, Ulysses, and even the shuttle.

The spacecraft consisted primarily of a large 3. The spacecraft was about 6. Behind the dish was a rectangular section containing the radar sensor electronics, reaction wheels, and batteries. Behind this section lay a decahedral bus, which included the solar panel array, star scanner, a medium-gain antenna, the on-board computer and two tape recorders.

Behind the bus lay the propulsion module. The two 5. These batteries provided the 28 V of power needed during solar occultation to allow normal spacecraft operations. Pointing control was maintained through the use of three electrically powered, orthogonal reaction wheels. Large scale orbital corrections, both in transit to Venus as well as after orbital insertions, was accomplished through the use of a monopropellant hydrazine thruster system.

The thrusters were also used to permit desaturation of the momentum wheels. The coherent X- and S-band radio subsystem was used for communications as well as by the gravity field experiment. Magellan reached Venus and went into orbit on 10 August The initial phase of the mission Cycle 1 began shortly after orbital insertion about Venus and lasted for eight months 15 Sept.

Cycle 2 lasted from the end of cycle 1 until 15 Jan. Cycle 3 began on 24 Jan. Cycle 4 lasted from 15 Sept. An aerobraking maneuver, in which Magellan was dipped into the Venus atmosphere to shed orbital energy and bring the spacecraft into a more circular orbit, was performed from 24 May until 02 August This issue contains numerous other papers describing Magellan results.

This volume contains numerous other papers describing Magellan results. Cross references Gravimetry ; Surface gravity ; Venus ; Venus: geology and geophysics ; Venus: gravity. Stephen Saunders There are no affiliations available. Personalised recommendations. Cite entry How to cite? The mission proceeded as follows:. A total of usable SAR imaging orbits was obtained by Magellan.

The Magellan mission scientific objectives were to study land forms and tectonics, impact processes, erosion, deposition, chemical processes, and model the interior of Venus. Magellan showed us an Earth-sized planet with no evidence of Earth-like plate tectonics. Some surface modification in the form of wind streaks was observed. The mean surface age is estimated to be about My.