NASA Photo ID: S88-51852           File Name: 10063248.jpg
  Film Type: 4x5                     Date Taken: 11/02/88
  Title: Artist concept of Magellan spacecraft in elliptical orbit around Venus
  Description:
  Magellan spacecraft is shown in elliptical orbit around Venus, collecting 
  data (radar mapping), and then transmitting data back to Earth in this
  artist  concept.  When the spacecraft orbit is close to Venus the synthetic
  aperature  radar (SAR) will image a swath between 9 and 15 nautical miles
  (10 and 17  statute miles), beginning at or near the north pole and
  continuing to the  southern hemisphere.  Subsequent swaths will slightly
  overlap and, during its  primary mission, the spacecraft will map most of
  the planet.  When the  spacecraft moves into the part of its elliptical
  orbit farthest from Venus,  the spacecraft high-gain antenna will be turned
  toward Earth and will send  the data collected during the imaging to Earth.
  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.  Magellan is  managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL);
  Martin Marietta is developing  the spacecraft and Hughes Aircraft Company,
  the advanced imaging radar.   Magellan will be deployed from the payload
  bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter  Vehicle (OV) 104, during mission STS-30. 
  View provided by JPL with alternate  number P31315.     
  
  Subject terms:
  DATA TRANSMISSION                       
  EARTH (PLANET)                          
  ELLIPTICAL ORBITS                       
  MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT (NASA)              
  SATELLITE TRANSMISSION                  
  STS-30                                  
  SUN                                     
  VENUS (PLANET)                          
  VISUAL AIDS                             
  

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