Road to Magallanes

1989/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronautika

After a long delay, at the beginning of last May the automatic probe Magallaes took the path of Venus.

Magellaes will reach a planet similar to ours in August 1990 and for eight months Venus will orbit 1,852 times. The radar will explore 90% of the surface of Venus. It has a very high definition radar (16 miles) and will offer better images than other ships that have visited Venus before (from the Pioneer and Venera and Vega section of the North Americans and Soviets). These images will allow you to know whether the surface of Venus has plate tectonics or whether it is solid like the Moon.

The mission of Magelles has had many ups and downs in the last ten years. When the Pioner probe was sent to Venus in 1978, it spoke of the need for a mission with greater resolution. A year later the mission was organized, but the launch date was delayed on two occasions and, as the ferry program is more important, it was discarded once again for lack of money. On the other hand, the accident suffered by Challengera in 1986 again delayed the mission.