This picture is part of a great success story. The mountains of Maxwell
Montes, the highest on Venus, were photographed by the space probe Magellan.
But after four fruitful years orbiting Venus, Magellan is about to receive
its final orders. On 10 October, the probe will be instructed to commit
suicide.
In its time above the planet, Magellan has mapped all but 2 per cent
of the Venusian surface, using a powerful radar system that penetrates the
planet鈥檚 perpetual cloud. It has also made measurements of gravity that
should reveal details of what lies beneath the planet鈥檚 crust.
NASA scientists hope that even in its death throes Magellan will tell
them something more about Venus. Next month, the probe鈥檚 controllers will
tilt Magellan鈥檚 solar panels and send it spinning down into Venus鈥檚 atmosphere.
Before it burns up, scientists will measure the force it takes to stop the
probe rotating. From these readings, they hope to calculate the density
of the gases high above the planet.
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