NASA Photo ID: S88-34241 File Name: 10063247.jpg
Film Type: 35mm Date Taken: 04/27/88
Title: Art concept of Magellan spacecraft in cruise configuration
Description:
Magellan spacecraft cruise configuration is illustrated in this artist
concept. With solar panels deployed and having jettisoned the inertial
upper stage (IUS), Magellan approaches the sun which it will orbit
approximately 1.6 times before encountering Venus. Magellan, named after
the 16th century Portuguese explorer, will orbit Venus about once every
three hours, acquiring radar data for 37 minutes of each orbit when it is
closest to the surface. Using an advanced instrument called a synthetic
aperture radar (SAR), it will map more than 90 per cent of the surface
with resolution ten times better than the best from prior spacecraft.
Magellan is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); Martin
Marietta Aerospace is developing the spacecraft and Hughes Aircraft
Company, the advanced imaging radar. Magellan will be deployed from
payload bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, during the STS-30
mission.
Subject terms:
MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT (NASA)
STS-30
SUN
VENUS (PLANET)
VISUAL AIDS
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