# Magellan

> NASA robotic space probe that studied the planet Venus

**Wikidata**: [Q466932](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q466932)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellan_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/magellan

## Summary
Magellan was a NASA robotic space probe designed to study the planet Venus. Launched in May 1989 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, it was the first interplanetary mission to be deployed from the Shuttle. The spacecraft spent over four years orbiting Venus, completing 15,032 orbits before concluding its mission in October 1994.

## Key Facts
- **Identity:** NASA robotic space probe and planetary orbiter; also known as the Venus Radar Mapper (VRM).
- **Launch Date:** May 4, 1989, at 18:46:59 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Space Shuttle Atlantis (Mission STS-30) from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.
- **Target:** Venus (orbit insertion achieved on August 10, 1990).
- **Mission Duration:** Approximately 1,988 days (estimate).
- **Mass:** 3,448.8 kg at launch; 1,035 kg dry weight.
- **Dimensions:** 6.36 meters in length; 4.6 meters in width (spacecraft); 9.2 meters width (solar array).
- **Cost:** 680 million United States dollars (as of 1994).
- **Operators:** Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
- **Manufacturers:** Martin Marietta (spacecraft) and Hughes Aircraft Company (radar).

## FAQs
### Q: How was the Magellan probe launched?
A: Magellan was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-30 on May 4, 1989. It was deployed from the shuttle's payload bay using an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS-18) rocket to propel it toward Venus.

### Q: When did the Magellan mission end?
A: The mission concluded on October 13, 1994, when the spacecraft performed an atmospheric entry into Venus. Contact was lost on October 12, 1994, at 10:02 UTC.

### Q: What was the primary purpose of the Magellan spacecraft?
A: Magellan was a planetary probe designed to orbit and study Venus. Its primary instrument was a radar system manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company, allowing it to investigate the planet's surface.

## Why It Matters
Magellan represents a significant chapter in planetary exploration, specifically regarding the study of Venus. As a "planetary probe" and "orbiter," it provided sustained observation of the planet, completing over 15,000 orbits. The mission is notable for its operational approach, utilizing the Space Shuttle as a launch platform combined with an Inertial Upper Stage, marking a key integration of shuttle capabilities with deep-space exploration. Funded by NASA with contributions from CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales), the mission involved significant technical collaboration, utilizing a spacecraft built by Martin Marietta and a radar payload by Hughes Aircraft. The mission's conclusion via planned atmospheric entry in 1994 marked the end of a highly productive data-gathering phase that greatly contributed to the understanding of the Venusian environment.

## Notable For
- **Shuttle Deployment:** Being the first planetary probe deployed from the Space Shuttle.
- **Venus Mapping:** Orbiting Venus 15,032 times to study the planet via radar.
- **Mission Scale:** Accumulating a total mission duration of nearly 2,000 days.
- **Atmospheric Entry:** Ending its operational life through a planned atmospheric entry into Venus on October 13, 1994.
- **Nomenclature:** Being named after the explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

## Body

### Mission Profile
Magellan was a robotic space probe launched by NASA to investigate Venus. The mission began with a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B on May 4, 1989. The probe was carried into low Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-30) and deployed at 01:01:32 UTC on May 5, 1989. An Inertial Upper Stage (IUS-18) was used to propel the spacecraft out of Earth's orbit.

After traveling through space, Magellan successfully achieved orbit insertion around Venus on August 10, 1990, at 17:00 UTC. The spacecraft remained active for several years, conducting orbital activity until its final communication on October 12, 1994.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft was manufactured by Martin Marietta, with Hughes Aircraft Company supplying the radar system.
- **Mass:** The spacecraft had a launch weight of 3,448.8 kilograms and a dry weight of 1,035 kilograms.
- **Dimensions:** The spacecraft body measured 6.36 meters in length and 4.6 meters in width. It was equipped with a solar array spanning 9.2 meters to provide power.
- **Propulsion and Power:** In addition to the solar arrays, the system included a dedicated space tug (Inertial Upper Stage).

### Operational History
The probe was managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Throughout its mission, Magellan completed 15,032 orbits of Venus.
- **Deployment:** Released from Shuttle Atlantis on May 5, 1989.
- **Arrival:** Entered Venus orbit on August 10, 1990.
- **Conclusion:** The mission formally ended with atmospheric entry on October 13, 1994. The final signal was received the previous day.

### Identifiers and Classification
Magellan is classified as an instance of a "planetary probe" and "orbiter." It is identified in various databases by the following IDs:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1989-033B
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1989-033B
- **NAIF ID:** -18

## References

1. [Source](https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/magellan/in-depth/)
2. [Source](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19860023785)
3. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/magellan.htm)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-033B)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1989-033B)
7. [Source](https://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/magellan/status941013.html)
8. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mgn_rip.txt)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/docs/sts/vol1.pdf)
11. [Source](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20050236489/downloads/20050236489.pdf)
12. Robotic Exploration of the Solar System, Part 2: Hiatus and Renewal, 1983-1996
13. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_stage/ius.htm)
14. [Source](https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/shuttle_pk/mrk/FLIGHT_029-STS-030_MRK.pdf)
15. [Source](https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/magellan/fact.html)
16. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)
17. KBpedia