Venus Radar
Uses planetary radar to measure Venus more accurately.
Role range: 1926-2021
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Gordon Pettengill Biography and Timeline
Follow Gordon Pettengill through 8 dated historical records for United States of America.
Gordon Pettengill, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
8Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1961–1990Years on this page
1961
1962
Mercury Radar
Radar astronomy helps refine measurements of Mercury and Venus.
Role range: 1926-2021
1965
Mercury Rotation
Radar observations overturn the accepted 88-day rotation period and indicate that Mercury rotates in about 59 days.
1969
Planetary Radar
Planetary radar maps surfaces hidden by cloud and distance.
Role range: 1926-2021
1978
Pioneer Venus Radar Mapping
The Pioneer Venus Orbiter begins radar observations that reveal broad topographic features beneath Venus's clouds.
1979
Venus Topography
Pioneer Venus radar data reveal major highland and lowland regions, including features later mapped in greater detail by Magellan.
1989
Magellan Radar Mapping
Magellan launches to map Venus with synthetic aperture radar.
Role range: 1926-2021
1990
Venus Radar Mapping
Magellan enters Venus orbit and begins radar mapping.
Role range: 1926-2021
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.