5 years, 161 days
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
3,449
KG
LAUNCH MASS
1
TARGETS
Venus
Magellan is a orbiter mission by NASA / JPL targeting Venus. Launched May 4, 1989.
ABOUT MAGELLAN
Magellan used synthetic aperture radar to map 98% of Venus’s surface through its thick clouds. The mission revealed a world dominated by volcanic features with no evidence of plate tectonics. Magellan was deliberately deorbited into Venus’s atmosphere in October 1994.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Venus has widespread volcanism (1,600+ volcanic features)
- No plate tectonics on Venus
- Evidence of recent volcanic activity
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Mapped 98% of Venus surface using radar
- First planetary spacecraft launched from Space Shuttle
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (3)
SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Radar Altimeter
Radiometer
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass3,449 kg (7,605 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
Launch VehicleSpace Shuttle Atlantis / IUS
Launch DateMay 4, 1989
Arrival DateAugust 10, 1990
Mission EndOctober 13, 1994
ProgramVenus Radar Mapper
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Venus
OTHER VENUS MISSIONS
🚀 LAUNCH MISSION