NASA Photo ID: S88-47731           File Name: 10063249.jpg
  Film Type: 35mm                    Date Taken: 09/21/88
  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) (highlighted in image), 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.      
  
  Subject terms:
  DATA TRANSMISSION                       
  EARTH (PLANET)                          
  ELLIPTICAL ORBITS                       
  MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT (NASA)              
  SATELLITE TRANSMISSION                  
  STS-30                                  
  SUN                                     
  VENUS (PLANET)                          
  VISUAL AIDS                             
  

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