Question

Which spacecraft has sent images of Venus to scientists on Earth? A) Voyager C) Apollo 11 B) Viking D) Magellan

Short answer

D) Magellan

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question

The question asks which spacecraft sent images of the planet Venus to Earth. This involves knowing the missions and targets of each spacecraft option provided.

Review Spacecraft Missions

To answer, review the missions: - **Voyager**: Primarily focused on the outer planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. - **Apollo 11**: Conducted the first manned lunar landing and did not focus on Venus. - **Viking**: Conducted Mars exploration missions. - **Magellan**: Specifically mapped and sent back radar images of Venus' surface.

Identify the Correct Answer

Based on the missions of each spacecraft: - Magellan is the only spacecraft specifically tasked with examining Venus, making it responsible for sending images of Venus to Earth.

Key concepts

Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is often referred to as Earth's "sister planet" due to their similar size and composition. However, Venus has extreme conditions that make it quite different from Earth.

• Its atmosphere is dense and composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulfuric acid, leading to an intense greenhouse effect.
• Surface temperatures can soar over 467°C (872°F), making it the hottest planet in our solar system.
• The atmospheric pressure is 92 times that of Earth's, which is similar to the pressure found about a kilometer under the ocean on Earth.

Despite these harsh conditions, Venus is of great interest to scientists studying the planet for clues about Earth's distant past and climate change.
Its proximity offers a chance to understand more about terrestrial planets and their evolution.

spacecraft missions

Spacecraft missions are designed to explore and study planets, moons, and other celestial bodies. They help us gather data we cannot obtain from Earth.

• Such missions can be flybys, where the spacecraft passes by a target, or orbiters, which circle a planet or moon.
• They can also include landers or rovers that touch down on the surface to conduct further study.

These missions reveal information about a planet's surface, atmosphere, magnetic fields, and much more.
Technology aboard these spacecraft can include cameras for images, lids for surface studies, and spectrometers for determining chemical compositions. Each mission is meticulously planned and executed to maximize the scientific return.

Magellan mission

The Magellan mission was a robotic spacecraft mission by NASA, aimed at studying the surface of Venus in unprecedented detail.
It launched on May 4, 1989, and arrived at Venus on August 10, 1990. Magellan was equipped with sophisticated radar systems capable of penetrating the thick clouds of Venus, allowing it to map over 98% of the planet's surface.

• It produced detailed images showing volcanic plains, mountains, and canyons.
• Magellan's radar data helped scientists understand the geological history and surface composition of Venus.

Through its mission, Magellan changed our understanding of Venus and demonstrated the effectiveness of radar imaging for planetary exploration.
It provided a wealth of data that scientists continue to study even after the mission concluded in 1994.

planetary science

Planetary science is the study of planets, moons, and planetary systems, particularly in terms of their formation, composition, and physical characteristics.
Researchers in this field use data from telescopes and spacecraft missions to expand our understanding of our solar system.

• It encompasses geology, meteorology, chemistry, and physics to analyze celestial bodies.
• Planetary science has broad implications, including searching for extraterrestrial life and understanding planetary systems beyond our own.

Knowledge gained from studying other planets helps scientists make inferences about Earth's past and future.
From understanding climate change to predicting asteroid impacts, planetary science is pivotal in expanding our knowledge of the cosmos and applying it back to our own planet.