Space and Astronomy Atlas

How The Universe Works
Missions and Programs

Magellan

Venus Radar Mapping Mission

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Magellan was a 1,035 kilogram robotic space probe launched by NASA on May 4, 1989 to map the surface of Venus using synthetic aperture radar and to measure the planet's gravitational field. Managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, it completed all its mission objectives before communication was lost on October 13, 1994 as the spacecraft entered radio occultation behind Venus, and it was deliberately deorbited to disintegrate in the Venusian atmosphere.

Facts
Launch Date
1989-05-04 1
Outcome
All mission objectives completed; communication was lost on October 13, 1994 as the spacecraft entered radio occultation behind Venus, and it was deorbited to disintegrate in the Venusian atmosphere. 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationMagellan (spacecraft) article, lead section
Quote, Magellan (spacecraft) article, lead section
map the surface of Venus by using synthetic-aperture radar and to measure the planetary gravitational field
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationMagellan (spacecraft) article, infobox
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationMagellan (spacecraft) article, end of mission section
Quote, Magellan (spacecraft) article, end of mission section
communication was lost when the spacecraft entered radio occultation behind Venus
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