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Mapping began in September
1990 and by May 1993 98% of the planet had been surveyed down
to a resolution of 120 metres. The main 3.7m dish was used
to radar map the surface. These pulses were sent down a at
an oblique angle (much like bouncing a ball away from you),
so in Magellan images the rougher areas appear bright (pulses
received back just like the ball may come back to you on a
rough surface), while smooth areas are radar dark (no pulses
received as they bounced off up ahead of the craft, just like
the ball on a smooth surface). A smaller antenna sent down
a vertical pulse to give an altitude accuracy of 10 metres.
Mission Results:
- Volcanism dominated the surface with multiple
lava flows, some showing river-like meanderings.
- Faults and fractures criss-crossed the
surface.
- Craters were 'fresh' with little erosion
and scattered randomly, indicating the surface was all about
the same age.
After completing its mission
the craft entered the dense Venusian atmosphere and was destroyed.
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