America's first spacecraft to orbit Venus, the Pioneer-Venus Orbiter, was launched #OTD in 1978. The spacecraft's radar penetrated Venus's thick atmosphere, allowing scientists to produce this topographical map of the surface. @NASASolarSystem
Learn more: https://go.nasa.gov/41Dn8al
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In Depth | Pioneer Venus 1 – NASA Solar System Exploration
NASA’s real-time science encyclopedia of deep space exploration. Our scientists and far-ranging robots explore the wild frontiers of our solar system.NASA Solar System Exploration