Magellan (spacecraft)

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/magellan-spacecraft

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Magellan (spacecraft)?1,035 kilograms (2,282 pounds)
2. What is the launch date?May 4, 1989
3. What is the primary scientific instrument?Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) for surface mapping
4. What was the Magellan spacecraft and why was it launched?Magellan was a NASA robot that flew to Venus to map its surface with radar because Venus is covered in thick clouds. It launched on May 4, 1989.
5. How did Magellan see the surface of Venus?It used a synthetic‑aperture radar that sent microwaves through the clouds and listened to the echoes, creating detailed maps of the planet’s surface.

Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR): A radar imaging technique that uses the motion of a spacecraft to achieve high-resolution maps.
Aerobraking: A fuel-saving maneuver that uses atmospheric drag to reduce a spacecraft's orbital velocity.