The Magellan spacecraft was a 1,035-kilogram (2,282 lb) robotic space probe launched by NASA of the United States, on May 4, 1989, to map the surface of Venus by using synthetic-aperture radar and to measure the planetary gravitational field.
Magellan with its Star 48B solid rocket motor undergoing final checks at the Kennedy Space Center
Magellan being fixed into position inside the payload bay of Atlantis prior to launch
Launch of STS-30 on May 4, 1989
The spacecraft in a deployment position in Atlantis' payload bay
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. Established in 1958, it succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to give the U.S. space development effort a distinct civilian orientation, emphasizing peaceful applications in space science. It has since led most of America's space exploration programs, including Project Mercury, Project Gemini, the 1968–1972 Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA supports the International Space Station along with the Commercial Crew Program, and oversees the development of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System for the lunar Artemis program.
NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
A U.S. Air Force Bell X-1 test flight
Launch of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency's Explorer 1, America's first satellite
Launch of Friendship 7, NASA's first orbital flight, February 20, 1962