Question

On which planet was the spacecraft ‘Magellan’ sent?
A) Mars
B) Saturn
C) Jupiter
D) Venus

Answer 1

Hint: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government liable for the regular citizen space program, just as air transportation and space research. It was set up in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the new office was to have an unmistakably non-military personnel direction, empowering serene applications in space science.

Complete answer:
NASA's Magellan mission was one of the most successful deep space missions.
Now let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Mars: This option is incorrect as the Magellan spacecraft was launched in 1989, to map the surface of Venus. Whereas the first mission by NASA to Mars was ‘Mariner 3’ in 1964 and it was a failure. Hence, the given option is wrong.

Option B) Saturn: This option is incorrect as the Magellan spacecraft was launched in 1989, to map the surface of Venus. Whereas the first mission by NASA to Saturn was ‘Pioneer 11’ in 1979 and it was a success. Hence, the given option is wrong.

Option C) Jupiter: This option is incorrect as the Magellan spacecraft was launched in 1989, to map the surface of Venus. Whereas the first mission by NASA to Saturn was ‘Pioneer 10’ in 1973 and it was a success. Hence, the given option is wrong.

Option D) Venus: This option is correct as the Magellan spacecraft was launched in 1989, to map the surface of Venus. It was the first spacecraft sent to Venus by NASA that made several discoveries about the planet. It survived for only 10hrs after reaching into the Venusian atmosphere. Hence, the given option is the right answer.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D'.

Note: The Magellan shuttle was a 1,035-kilogram (2,282 lb) automated space test dispatched by NASA of the United States, on May 4, 1989, to plan the outside of Venus by utilizing manufactured gap radar and to gauge the planetary gravitational field. The Magellan test was the primary interplanetary mission to be dispatched from the Space Shuttle, the first to utilize the Inertial Upper Stage supporter, and the principal rocket to test air slowing down as a technique for circularizing its circle. Magellan was the fifth fruitful NASA mission to Venus, and it finished an eleven-year hole in U.S. interplanetary test dispatches.