The Magellan Space Probe

Mission Launch

May 4, 1989

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)Megallen is launched from the KSC Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From then on, it rode on the Space Shuttle Atlantis to its destination.

The Magellan Space Probe Mission

Period: May 4, 1989 to Oct 13, 1994

Trip to the "twin" of Earth (Beginning)

May 5, 1989

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)The following day of Magellan's launch, it becomes detatched to the space shuttle, along with its inertial Upper Stage booster.

Encounter with Venus

Aug 10, 1990

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)On August 10, 1990, Magellan finally catched up with Venus orbit around the Sun. It took another month before the actual start of exploring Venus.

1st Mapping Cycle

Sep 15, 1990

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)The first mapping cycle used the "left-looking" stragety to take high-resoulution photographs of 83.7% of the planet's surface. This cycle ended on May 15, 1991.

2nd Mapping Cycle

May 15, 1991

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)With the intention of the right-looking stragety, Magellan gathered photographs of 54.5% of the planet's surface; the cycle was basically a plan to collet any gaps from Cycle one. This part of the mission ended on January, 14, 1992.

3rd Mapping Cycle

Jan 15, 1992

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)In the third mapping cycle, the data gathered from cycles one and two helped scientists create stereo imagery: 3D renderings of what Venus' surface may look like. This part of the mission ended on September 13, 1992.

4th Mapping Cycle

Sep 14, 1992

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)Magellan began to measure Venus's gravitational field rather thaan using photography by observing the velocity of the spacecraft. This mission ended on May 23, 1993.

5th Mapping Cycle

May 24, 1993

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)The main reason for the fifth mapping cycle was to prove the unknown "aerobraking" technique. This cycle ended on August 29, 1994.

The "Aerobraking" Technique

May 24, 1993

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)Aerobraking is a technique that involves slowing down the orbit of interplanetary spacecraafts. One of the far most accomplishments was that Magellan was first to prove the aerobraking technique. This once unproven theory is now used in current and possibly future interplanetary space probe missions.

6th Mapping Cycle

Apr 16, 1994

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)In the sixth mapping cycle, Magellan's goal was to collect high-resoulution gravity data and conduct radio science experiments. This mission ended on October 13, 1994, also known as the end of Magellan.

The Windmill experiment

Sep 6, 1994

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)The windmill experiment was another proven technique by Magellan. When lowered into the Venusian atmosphere, its solar arrays acted as paddles to test the oxygen-gas surface interaction. Again, this proven technique was used in current and possibly future space missions. The part of the mission ended September 14, 1994.

Magellan's End

Oct 13, 1994

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft)On October 13, 1994, Magellan met its end with the cancelling of its mission, and its plummet to Venus's surface.