The radar mapping is to be done for a 37-minute period on each orbit, when the Magellan is closest to the planet.

Our shadow triangulations and radar mapping jibe on this one for a change.

"A routine radar mapping sortie-a spy mission," Mitchell the CIA director, chimed in.

However, radio telescopes have also been used to investigate objects much closer to home, including observations of the Sun and solar activity, and radar mapping of the planets.

Feasibility studies also include radar mapping of the flight paths of birds migrating through the area.

Specially-equipped Humvees allow Army units to receive the full stream of Jstar images and radar mapping and to convey information requests to the plane.

The SLAR was primarily used for radar mapping and its antennas were mounted on the lower fuselage just below the aft wing.

They're intended more for radar mapping and weather observation, not real look-down capability, and air masses don't move that fast.

Aerobraking was tested by the Magellan spacecraft in 1993 at the end of its radar mapping of Venus.

After communication was restored the second time and the malfunctioning memory unit was bypassed, officials decided to start radar mapping 15 days late.