A view of Venus, created from radar information from Magellan
The Magellan spacecraft, also called the Venus Radar Mapper, was a NASA spacecraft designed to explore the planet Venus. It was launched on May 4, 1989, and reached Venus on August 10, 1990. It was in orbit around Venus for four years making detailed maps of the surface using radar and measuring the planet's gravity. Because of the thick atmosphere around the planet, the information from Magellan provided scientists with their first views of the surface of Venus. On October 12, 1994, the Magellan spacecraft was crashed into the planet on purpose.
The Magellan was the first spacecraft to be launched from a Space Shuttle, the Atlantis. It was also the first spacecraft to be deliberately crashed. Magellan was made from parts left over from other space exploration programs, including Voyager.
The Magellan was named after the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521).
Images for kids
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The Voyager probe spacecraft bus that formed the main body of Magellan
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Thrusters, Star 48 booster and the internal components of the Forward Equipment Module
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Positions of the three antennas
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Mosaic of the "left-looking" data collected during cycle 1
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Mosaic of the "right-looking" data collected during cycle 2
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Five global views of Venus by Magellan
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A poster designed for the Magellan end of mission
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Annotated diagram of Magellan
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Magellan during pre-flight checkout
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Magellan being fixed into position inside the payload bay of Atlantis prior to launch
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Launch of STS-30 on May 4, 1989
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The spacecraft in a deployment position in Atlantis' payload bay
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Deployment of Magellan with Inertial Upper Stage booster
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Trajectory of Magellan to Venus
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Map of the stereo imaging collected by Magellan during cycle 3
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Eistla Regio featuring Gula Mons reprojected in 3D from stereo data
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Reprojection of Maat Mons, with vertical exaggeration
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Volcanic dome in Alpha Regio observed from reprojecting stereo data
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Maxwell Montes, highest point on Venus
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Volcanoes as seen in the Fortuna region of Venus
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Aphrodite Terra, a rugged landscape
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Pancake domes visible in Alpha Regio
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A meandering lava channel from Fortuna Tessera to Sedna Planitia
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An unusual volcanic edifice in the Eistla region
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175-kilometer Isabella crater
See also
In Spanish: Magallanes (misión espacial) para niños